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Fine Clothes

The woman in this Vermeer painting is clothed in finely sewn and dyed fabric. She wears a peacock blue velvet jacket with a white fur lined hood over her head, paired with a large yellow skirt.This clothing style was popular for the 17th century upper merchant class in Holland, alluding to the wealth this woman has.

Smarthistory Video

Religious Context

This painting of the Last Judgement stands above the womans head, reflecting on the religious context that Vermeer includes in his work. The painting depicts the last judgement, where christ comes before humanity and will bring his people to heaven. Vermeer was a practicing Catholic and his religious beliefs informed his artwork. The national gallery of art stated "the thematic concerns underlying this work are similar: one should lead a life of temperance and balanced judgment."

National Gallery of Art

Jewels and Wealth

The balance in this painting symbolizes the balance of ones actions in life.With the last judgement scene above the balance, it speaks to the larger subject of eternity and the womans ablility to weigh and balance her own actions.The jewelry box, coins, and pearls draped on the table have been theorized to represent the riches and tempations of life, and to remind the viewer to resist these earlthy riches for the ones that will be granted above.

Essential Vermeer

Reflections

The light source from the window here is the main indicator this is one of Vermeer's paintings. Vermeer uses this soft and subtle light to paint the woman in a soft and peaceful way, revealing her inner peace and balance. The mirror on the wall is a common item used to represent reflection and looking at oneself, and vermeer uses this to show the viewer to self reflect or have "self-knowledge" about their actions and their eternity in christ.

National Gallery of Art

Woman holding a balanceJohannes Vermeer, 1664

Secular Matters of the global baroque- Smarthistory

This painting was done by Johannes Vermeer in 1664, oil on canvas. He was one of the most famous dutch painters in the 17th century and was known for his amazing ability to depect light in his household themed paintings. "Pictures of orderly wealthy domestic interiors such as Johannes Vermeer’s Woman Holding a Balance were among the most popular types of pictures in the Protestant Dutch Republic—the virtuous home echoing the ideals of the state as a whole."