Course: AP®︎/College Art History > Unit 5
Lesson 4: Protestant Reformation and Catholic Counter-Reformation- Cranach, Law and Gospel (Law and Grace)
- Il Gesù, including Triumph of the Name of Jesus ceiling fresco
- Bruegel, Hunters in the Snow (Winter)
- Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Hunters in the Snow (Winter)
- Caravaggio, Calling of Saint Matthew and Inspiration of St. Matthew
- Rubens, The Presentation of the Portrait of Marie de' Medici
- Rubens, The Presentation of the Portrait of Marie de' Medici
- Rembrandt, Self-Portrait with Saskia
- Geometry and motion in Borromini's San Carlo
- Bernini, Ecstasy of Saint Teresa
- Velázquez, Las Meninas
- Johannes Vermeer, Woman Holding a Balance
- Château de Versailles
- Rachel Ruysch, Fruit and Insects
- William Hogarth, Marriage A-la-Mode (including Tête à Tête)
Johannes Vermeer, Woman Holding a Balance
Vermeer's "Woman Holding a Balance" portrays a quiet scene of a 17th-century Dutch woman weighing valuables. The painting features a Last Judgment scene behind her, suggesting deeper meanings about wealth and spirituality. Vermeer's precise composition and use of light create a sense of time, change, and stillness, inviting various interpretations about the balance between worldly possessions and spiritual concerns. Johannes Vermeer, Woman Holding a Balance, 1664, oil on canvas, 42.5 cm × 38 cm / 16.7 in × 15 in (National Gallery of Art) Speakers: Dr. Steven Zucker and Dr. Beth Harris
. Created by Beth Harris and Steven Zucker.Want to join the conversation?
- I also feel like the woman looks obviously pregnant. Taking that into consideration, the painting to me becomes a statement on the mother's contemplation of her baby's life. I think she's wondering if her baby will lead a life of wealth that is well-balanced with spirituality, and the mirror in front of her could mean she's reflecting on whether she herself has lead such a balanced life. Perhaps it shows a moment of recognizing shortcomings and striving to be better, as she's anticipating the new life/baby?(36 votes)
- 17th century dresses had several layers of skirts over one and other. The more skirts a lady wore the more wealthy she probably was. Furthermore voluptuousness was considered very beautiful. Even when not pregnant a lady would wear many skirts to appear more 'full'.
In our modern day society were slim is the ideal anyone who appears not trying to look slim must have a reason for doing so. And we often think, hmm she must be pregnant! However I personally feel that her tummy is most likely a result of her fashionable dress.
If she would have been pregnant, it is quite possible that she's contemplate such things. Childbirth and childhood were quite dangerous. And in the light of an upcoming birth one can understand a woman being nervous and contemplative of the changes that will soon follow.(27 votes)
- Could the woman in the painting represent Mary? She is dressed in blue as Mary often was in paintings in earlier generations. She is also holding a scale, could that be related to god's judgement?(19 votes)
- I do not think Mary would ever think twice about whats more important, life or wealth. Let the dead bury the dead is what Jesus said to the people when the rich man could not give up his ,and his fathers wealth to give to the poor. Then become a follower of Christ. Blue is a color royalty,the mother of a King.(0 votes)
- She appears pregnant. She may be balancing her life and death in relation to a new life. Dying during childbirth was a common reality in the 17th century. Has she decided to risk her wealth and life for a child?(13 votes)
- Though Jan Van Eyck's "Arnolfini Wedding" predates Vermeer's work by over two hundred years, it's a good comparison in terms of the pregnancy question. In Van Eyck's day women wore their dresses bunched in the front as a matter of style: http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/jan-van-eyck-the-arnolfini-portrait. The bride in this painting looks much more pregnant than Vermeer's lady, but she's not with child. Fashion only makes sense in its historical context. Who could predict that a few centuries later women would move the gathering from front to back to emphasize their backsides (via bustles, literally a pad to create a protrusion)?(7 votes)
- Am I really the only one who thinks she is obviously pregnant?(9 votes)
- No, you aren't. This was almost the first thing that catched my eyes. I don't know why there was not made mention of this fact. In my opinion it also could be an important criterion for the interpretation of the painting ...(5 votes)
- Is it possible the woman is pregnant? The woman appears to be wearing the colors of the Virgin Mary. It looks as if the shadow to the right on her head is a hand holding her away from the damned. The Protestant church was growing and they don't revere the Virgin. However, the Protestants believed the Judgement was near, depicted in the painting above. Vermeer was Catholic.
I'd love to know your thoughts?(5 votes) - Am I the only one who thinks she is pregnant?(3 votes)
- Look through all of the other questions that have been asked and answered in the discussion about this painting, and notice all the times this question has been asked by others, 2 years ago, 3 years ago. You're not the only one, and you're not the first. You belong to a large community of people with inquiring minds.(3 votes)
- In opposition of those fragile, delicate hands that holds the balance I also see the crude, masculine dark hands that turns into shadow of the scarf that's in the direction of the "damed" figures of the painting. Also, she seems to be pregnant with out a ring on her hand. To provide for the baby soon to be born, without a husband, she is getting ready to sell her possessions to the merchants to provide for the baby she is about to have.(2 votes)
- Vermeer often used a camera obscura to compose and complete his paintings, which is why so many of his subjects appear to be left handed. As one who has many times used a scale to weigh gold and other things before digital scales were available, I can tell you that the scale would be held in the left hand and the weights and items to be weighed placed with the right hand so it is very possible she is wearing a wedding band. Another explanation is that in many cultures, the wedding ring was worn on the RIGHT hand and that continues still. She is obviously wealthy as shown by her clothing, the coins and jewelry and the scale itself, which was an expensive item at that time. Also the painting on the wall, particularly its size, indicates wealth.(2 votes)
- What culture is this work from?(2 votes)
- Why do Dutch paintings so often have a window only on the left side? I never see it in the far wall or right side of the painting.(2 votes)
- I see she has no wedding ring on, or any other jewelry. Is she an unwed mother to be? You would think with pearls ,and gold in her jewl box she would be wearing some type of wealth.(2 votes)