Over the years many paintings have caught my eye, however, one that has interested me the most is The Milk Maid by Jan Vermeer. Painted in 1658, "The Milk Maid" is a genre painting that shows a plump, pensive woman pouring milk into a bowl.
Many elements are noticeable in "The Milk Maid". The subject and her near surroundings consist of whites, yellows, blues, and reds. On the other hand, Vermeer leaves the wall dull and lifeless to keep viewers from being too distracted. Yet, while the focus does remain on the woman and her task, the subtle lighting does catch the viewer’s eye. Through the windowpane, the light is on the woman. Still, Vermeer created more realism to this artwork by giving shadows to the small nail on the wall, the brass bucket, and the bread.
While Vermeer did not use a dramatic contrast in this work, he did add subtleties to increase the excitement in viewers. The maid, for instance, is essentially the only object filled with color, allowing the viewer to focus on her body. Vermeer also used the contrast in colors to create emphasis at the task at hand. The focal point is on the milk maid’s wrist, allowing one to imagine the fluid movement the maid possessed while pouring the milk. With such subtle techniques, Vermeer captures an intimate moment with model—a woman alone with a hint of a smile, as she continues her work.
To the viewer only glancing, "The Milk Maid" is an innocent piece of art that seems to portray what Dutch domestic chores were like. Yet to those who know the history behind the Netherland folktales of milkmaids, my analysis of the painting is that it has suggestive context toward male viewers. As previously mentioned, the milk maid’s figure is the center of the panting. Men of that time, and years to come would gaze on her body in lust. Vermeer also planted subtle clues around to allude to the idea of romance. The tiles on the lower right of the artwork have little cupid figures giving the impression of love. While this may not have been Vermeer’s intention, the natural idea of a milkmaid evoked sexual availability.
This is a work of art in which Vermeer brings dignity to the household servant. What is seen as a simple activity done every day in the life of the Dutch, Vermeer was able to turn it into a reminiscing daydream. Except for the stream of milk, nothing else moves, nothing else matters than the task at hand. Vermeer’s use of color and light is mesmerizing, and for each viewer, evokes different emotions.
