The historical context of the Art of Painting
The Art of Painting (1666) by Baroque Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer goes by other names such as The Artist in His Studio and The Allegory of Painting. The Art of Painting is one of Vermeer’s greatest examples in Dutch Realism, and the painting is viewed as a full-blown allegory given that its context highlights the artist’s role in society and could even have been a portrait of the artist himself in his studio. Besides his paintings, little is known about Johanness Vameer’s personal life and inspirations besides the fact that he lived and worked in Delft. The painter left no personal writings or portraits behind. It is said that The Art of Painting was one of Vermeer’s favorite works. Adolf Hitler bought the painting in November 1940 at 1.65 million Reichsmark. After Hitler’s defeat by the Allies, the painting was seized by American troops and handed over to the Austrian Government. The painting is currently showcased at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
The cultural context of The Art of Painting
The Art of Painting explores the significance of an artist in society, hence, the allegory. A large curtain in the foreground is drawn back to reveal an artist whose back is turned to the viewers, painting a young model. The model is holding a large history book and a trumpet of glory. There is a large wall map of the Netherlands in the background. Art usually preserves an element of a time and place that historical records cannot. Art allows one to look backward and understand how civilizations have evolved. Holland was part of the United Provinces in the 17th century. The territory was not catholic and had banished catholic style Christian art (Encyclopedia of Art History). Furthermore, they expressed their commitment to enjoying the finer things in life, such as solid houses and clothes of high quality. Paintings that depicted bourgeois prosperity were also popular in the United Provinces at that time (Encyclopedia of Art History). Vermeer’s The Art of Painting does an excellent job in depicting the Dutch Golden age. The painting has no Christian themes, is of Dutch Realism, and the finer things in life are well captured, such as the artist and the model’s dressing and fine interior of the studio.
The political context of The Art of Painting
In the Art of Painting, surmounting the chandelier is an abstracted image of a double-headed eagle, which was the imperial symbol of the Hapsburg Dynasty. The Dutch Republic where Vermeer lived was a federation of seven provinces in the 1600s, an independent world power that had won its freedom from the Spanish between 1568 and 1609. The Dutch had earlier been under the rule of the Spanish house of Habsburg until the beginning of the 1600s. Hence, the imperial symbol of the Hapsburg Dynasty was still a popular image among the Dutch.
The social context of the painting
Lastly, the Dutch Republic was considered a world power in the 17th century. The territory had won its independence from Spain, had strict anti-Catholic policies due to their former masters, and was prosperous. The social context of the Dutch republic is revealed in the painting, which shows an artist and model member of the bourgeoise adoring fancy clothes and habiting a beautiful well-decorated studio.
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Zac Viper 