Lena Rivera
Johannes Vermeer's Woman Holding a Balance is an oil painting on canvas completed in the mid-17th century, between 1662 and 1665. The painting was previously known as Woman Weighing Gold before microscopic evaluation revealed that the balance in the woman's hand was empty. The artwork was sold in Amsterdam in 1696 and is now housed in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist | Johannes Vermeer |
| Year | 1662, 1663, or 1664 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 39.7 x 35.5 cm (15 5/8 x 14 in) |
| Current location | National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. |
| Previous names | Woman Weighing Gold |
| Inspiration | Pieter de Hooch's "Interior with a Woman Weighing Gold Coin" |
| Themes | Vanitas, self-knowledge, balance between material world and higher knowledge, divine truth, justice, and spiritual piety |
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What You'll Learn
The painting's composition
Johannes Vermeer's "Woman Holding a Balance" is an oil painting on canvas completed in 1662 or 1663, or possibly 1664 or 1665. It measures 39.7 x 35.5 cm (15 5/8 x 14 in) and is currently held in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
The painting depicts a young woman standing in a dimly lit room, facing left and looking down at a balance she holds in her right hand over a wooden table. The woman is dressed in a dark blue, heavy fur-lined jacket and a voluminous yellow skirt. Her left hand rests on the table, which holds a small coffer containing a pearl necklace and a gold chain, stacks of gold coins, and two open boxes with more pearls and gold chains spilling out.
The room is partially illuminated by soft light coming through a window in the upper left corner, partially covered by a yellow curtain. The light falls on the woman's face and hands, highlighting the white trim of her garment. The wall to the left of the window is bare plaster, while the back wall features a large painting of the Last Judgment, framed in black with two vertical bands of yellow paint along the right side of the frame. The bottom of the frame is slightly higher to the left of the woman, creating a sense of depth and making room for the balance in her hand.
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The woman's clothing
Johannes Vermeer's "Woman Holding a Balance" depicts a woman dressed in a blue jacket with fur trim, standing serenely in a dimly lit room. The colour of her jacket has been described as peacock blue, while other interpretations describe it as a dark blue or deep blue velvet jacket with a white hood and fur lining. The woman's voluminous skirt is a vibrant shade of mustard yellow, creating a striking contrast with the jacket. This colour scheme is echoed in the room, with a canary-yellow curtain partially covering the window, and a blue tablecloth on the wooden table in front of her.
Vermeer was known for his meticulous artistic technique, which is evident in the intricate details of the woman's clothing. The fur trim on her jacket, for example, is carefully painted to create a sense of texture and depth. The voluminous skirt, with its full shape and flowing fabric, adds a sense of elegance and movement to the composition.
The contrast between the woman's serene demeanour and the violent Baroque agitation of the "Last Judgment" painting behind her creates a powerful visual juxtaposition. This contrast has been interpreted as a commentary on life and death, materialism, and vanity. The woman's clothing, with its rich colours and elegant style, becomes a symbol of earthly pleasures and possessions, while the painting behind her serves as a reminder of the fleeting nature of life and the ultimate judgment that awaits.
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The painting's meaning
Johannes Vermeer's "Woman Holding a Balance" (c. 1664) is a painting rich in symbolism and open to various interpretations. Completed in 1662 or 1663, the artwork depicts a young woman standing near a table in a dimly lit room, holding an empty balance or scale in her right hand. The painting is notable for its exquisite use of light, which illuminates the woman's face and hands, as well as the objects on the table, including a pearl necklace, gold chains, and coins.
One interpretation of the painting's meaning is that it is a Vanitas, a common genre in Dutch still-life painting. The term "Vanitas" originates from the Latin words "worthlessness" and "emptiness" and is associated with the transience of life, materialism, and vanity. The mirror in the painting, positioned so that the woman can see her reflection, along with her possessions on the table, reinforce this interpretation. This reading suggests that the woman is being encouraged to focus on heavenly treasures rather than earthly ones, a reminder of the fleeting nature of life and the importance of spiritual piety over material possessions.
Another interpretation of the painting focuses on the idea of balance and harmony. The balance in the woman's hand could symbolise the internal workings of conscience and the moral decisions made by individuals. This interpretation is supported by the painting's composition, with the balance occupying a central position, reflecting a state of equilibrium and the woman's inner state of mind. The balance may represent the woman's attempt to harmonize her worldly possessions with her spiritual beliefs, suggesting that she is thoughtfully weighing her values and priorities.
The painting hanging on the wall behind the woman, "The Last Judgment," also provides a key to interpreting the work's meaning. The juxtaposition of the woman and the apocalyptic imagery of judgment reinforces the idea of weighing or judging. The woman's calm and contemplative demeanour contrasts with the violent agitation of the painting behind her, offering a sense of reassurance and the preciousness of life. The woman's presence can be seen as an embodiment of life itself, a quiet and judicious presence amidst the drama and despair of the painting's dialectic of omnipotence and despair.
"Woman Holding a Balance" also invites interpretations related to self-knowledge and enlightenment. The balance may symbolise the woman's pursuit of higher knowledge and her attempt to navigate the material world with a sense of equilibrium. The painting's composition, with its careful use of lighting and spatial manipulation, enhances the sense of a thoughtful and introspective moment, capturing the woman in a state of quiet reflection.
Overall, "Woman Holding a Balance" is a complex and multifaceted work that invites a range of interpretations. The painting's symbolism and compositional intricacies have made it a subject of extensive scholarly research and discussion, contributing to our understanding of Vermeer's artistic vision and the values embodied in his work.
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The painting's history
Johannes Vermeer's "Woman Holding a Balance" is an oil painting on canvas completed in 1662, 1663, or 1664. It measures 39.7 x 35.5 cm (15 5/8 x 14 in) and is currently housed in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
The painting depicts a young woman standing near a table in a dimly lit room, facing the painting's left and looking down at an empty balance she holds in her right hand. She wears a peacock-blue velvet jacket with a white hood and fur lining, and a voluminous mustard-yellow skirt. The table she stands beside contains a small coffer with a pearl necklace and a gold chain, as well as stacks of gold coins. A painting of the Last Judgment hangs on the wall behind her, providing an allegorical reading of the subject as a Christian metaphor.
The woman's pose and the painting behind her create a visual juxtaposition, with the violent Baroque agitation of the Last Judgment contrasting with the woman's calm and serenity. The balance in her hand is at equilibrium, reflecting her inner state of mind. The painting's composition, with the play of light and shadow, enhances the sense of quiet contemplation.
The meaning of "Woman Holding a Balance" has been interpreted in various ways. Some see it as a vanitas painting, representing the worthlessness and emptiness of worldly possessions. The mirror on the wall and the woman's reflection add to this interpretation, as it suggests a focus on earthly vanity rather than heavenly treasures. Others view the painting as a representation of divine truth, justice, or self-knowledge, with the balance symbolizing the harmony between the material world and higher knowledge.
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Similar paintings
"Woman Holding a Balance" is a painting by Johannes Vermeer, completed in 1662 or 1663. It is currently housed in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
Vermeer's Woman with a Pearl Necklace shares significant compositional similarities with "Woman Holding a Balance." The former painting also features a blue tablecloth, which bears a strong resemblance in fold, colour, and position to the one in "Woman Holding a Balance."
Vermeer's Young Woman Seated at a Virginal and The Concert also show similarities to "Woman Holding a Balance." These paintings exhibit Vermeer's familiarity with the tenebrist style of the Utrecht school of painters, who fused Italian chiaroscuro effects into a uniquely Dutch milieu.
Other paintings by Vermeer that employ a similar compositional formula to "Woman Holding a Balance" include "The Letter Reader", "The Milkmaid", "Woman in Blue Reading a Letter", and "The Water Pitcher." These works depict a young woman standing before a table facing a window, a motif that is also found in "Woman Holding a Balance."
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Frequently asked questions
The painting was completed in Delft, the city of Vermeer's birth, in 1662 or 1663.
The painting is currently in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.
The painting depicts a young woman standing before a table facing a window, holding an empty set of scales in her right hand. She wears a dark blue heavy fur-lined jacket over a voluminous yellow skirt.
Interpretations vary. Some see the painting as a vanitas, representing the worthlessness and emptiness of material possessions. Others see it as a representation of divine truth or justice, or as an incitement to lead a balanced, thoughtful life.
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