|| A Painter Painting a Painting of a Painter in a Painting Painting ||

In one of the many “picture” galleries at Vienna’s Art History Museum, there is a world famous painting by Johannes Vermeer van Delft, entitled “The Artist’s Studio” (1665/66). During our visit, a gentleman had set up his easel and was making a paintstaking copy of this painting, which let’s the viewer look over Vermeer’s shoulder as he paints a maiden (posing with the attributes of Cleo, the Muse of History: the laurel wreath, the trumpet and a book).

The Artist's Studio...in the Art Museum.

Vermeer eliminated chance, which had been an essential part of the previous period of “genre” painting.  All of the visual elements participate in the overall composition, and his subjects seem to have paused for a thoughtful moment in their daily life.  We see all this from the POV of a darkened room, with that mysterious light contributing to a masterpiece of pure painting.  The gent painting the painting is learning much more about this work than you or I can imagine.