Girls Forever (1673) — Mp4

Vermeer’s handling of light is what truly makes this work "forever." Look at the way the light catches the yellow silk of the lady's jacket (a garment that appears in several Vermeer works) and the intricate patterns of the marble floor.

: Notice the contrast. The servant looks down with a knowing, almost conspiratorial smile, while the mistress looks up with an expression of startled anticipation. The letter has clearly interrupted her music—and perhaps her thoughts. The Magic of Light and Texture Girls Forever (1673) mp4

Check out more of Vermeer's lighting techniques on the official National Gallery of Art website or share your favorite Baroque masterpiece in the comments! Vermeer’s handling of light is what truly makes

Nothing in a Vermeer painting is accidental. Every object tells a story: The letter has clearly interrupted her music—and perhaps

Vermeer was a master of . In The Letter , he employs a "threshold" composition. As a viewer, you aren't just looking at a scene; you are peering through a darkened doorway, past a pulled-back curtain, into the private sanctum of a Dutch household.

The use of techniques allowed Vermeer to achieve a photographic quality long before the invention of the camera. The soft-focus "halos" of light on the fabrics and the precision of the perspective draw you into the room, making the 1673 scene feel as vivid today as it did over 350 years ago. Why It Still Matters