Johannes Vermeer's 35 known works are considered among the most important and inspiring in art history, focusing on daily domestic activities and evoking narrative intrigues with meticulous detail and majestic planes of light. His paintings have inspired a New York Times best seller, a film starring Scarlett Johansson, and record visitor numbers at art institutions. This essential introduction explores Vermeer's leading place in art history and his unique ability to transform oil paint into a living, breathing scene of human life. Format: Hardback Length: 96 pages Publication date: 04 September 2020 Publisher: Taschen GmbH Johannes Vermeer (1632–1675) is a Dutch artist who is widely regarded as one of the most important and inspiring figures in art history. Despite having only 35 known works, his œuvre has had a significant impact on the world of art. Vermeer's paintings have been the subject of a New York Times best seller, a film starring Scarlett Johansson, and have attracted record visitor numbers to art institutions from Amsterdam to Washington.Vermeer's subjects often focus on daily domestic activities, such as letter writing, music playing, and preparations in the kitchen. His scenes are characterized by meticulous detail, majestic planes of light, and his extraordinary ability to draw out narrative intrigues. In such beloved paintings as "Lady Standing at a Virginal," "A Lady Writing a Letter with Her Maid," and the enigmatic "Girl with a Pearl Earring," Vermeer evokes not only the effects of substance and texture but also the many stories and secrets that reside beneath the surface.This essential introduction explores Vermeer's leading place in art history and his unique ability to transform oil paint into a living, breathing scene of human life. Featuring all of Vermeer's known works and succinct, accessible texts, it provides a comprehensive overview of his life and work. Weight: 564g Dimension: 269 x 217 x 15 (mm) ISBN-13: 9783836504898