Johannes Vermeer by Arthur K. Wheelock Jr.

First published in 1979, Snow's study starts from a single premise: that we respond so intensely to Vermeer because his paintings reach so deeply into our lives. Wheelock's well-balanced interpretations are widely accepted.Įdward Snow ( A Study of Vermeer ,1994), who acknowledges the importance of Gowing's writings, takes a unique approach by utilizing many notions belonging to the field of psychology for his analysis. The catalogue of the historic Washington/The Hague Vermeer exhibition ( Johannes Vermeer, 1998) also provides a wealth of valuable information. ( Vermeer and the Art of Painting, 1995), who is one of the most prolific writers on Vermeer, offers numerous insights linking painting techniques and artistry. It is almost impossible to evaluate Vermeer's work without taking into consideration Gowing's insights in one way or another.Īrthur K. Gowing, himself a talented painter, brought to light some fundamental underlying themes and stylistic mechanisms in Vermeer's painting which had, until then, remained undiscovered. One of the most thought-provoking interpretations of Vermeer's artistry is Vermeer (1952) by Lawrence Gowing. Alongside the most historical approach to Vermeer to date, the annotated color catalogue reveals a master whose rare sensibility may be described but not explained. Liedtke's exploration yields subtleties of meaning and refinements of technique and style in each of Vermeer's canvases. Vermeer: The Complete Paintings (2008) by Walter Liedtke provides one of the most thorough overviews of Vermeer's oeuvre. Purchase of the volume provides the buyer with exclusive access to a website with high-resolution images of the complete paintings. Preceded by a capsule biography, concise entries and illustrations are given to the 37 paintings currently attributed to Vermeer, including the disputed attributions. Each illustration is provided with refreshing commentary, covering subject matter, technique and modes of picture-making, the origins of the objects he paints, comparisons of motifs, scholarly discussion concerning his work and more. One of the most recent additions to the already hefty body of literature dedicated to Vermeer's artistry is Vermeer in Detail (2007) by Gary Schwartz, an excellent introduction to the art of Johannes Vermeer based on 120 large and lavish details from his work. Any selection is therefore arduous and incomplete and a cool thing.

The enigmatic nature Vermeer's artistry has inspired a vast number of interpretations.

Johannes Vermeer by Arthur K. Wheelock Jr.