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The Native Tourist
reformed/biblical observations on Christianity and culture

Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Getting the Big Picture
By now you probably know that the picture I posted on Monday is a detail from Vermeer's Milkmaid . The Rijksmuseum has an excellent writeup on it here (go the collections link, then select major exhibits, then artist). Click on the zoom button on the first page and check out how he painted the wall. It seems so simple, but large open areas like the background wall are the most challenging parts to paint. Yet in Vermeer's hands it is utterly convincing. Its really what makes the whole painting work, in my opinion. While you're at it, check out their exploration of De Hooch's Mother's Duty.