Young Woman with a Lute

Johannes Vermeer

ca. 1662-63

Young Woman with a Lute by Johannes Vermeer, ca. 1662-63

Vermeer masters the art of the 'pause' in this intimate scene. A young woman stands by the window, lute in hand, having just stopped playing to look outside—maybe she hears someone coming? The huge map of Europe on the wall hints that she might be waiting for a traveler to return from afar. Bathed in that signature soft, northern light, this painting feels less like a portrait and more like a frozen moment of longing, currently residing in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Technique
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
51.4 cm × 45.7 cm

Location: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

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