A mirror to the soul #art #painting #music #mirror #reflection #wow #amazing #socool #intimate #Love #LearnOnTikTok #viral #fyp #artist #arthistory

Do you see the discrepancy between this girl and her reflection? Johannes Vermeer's paintings are full of symbols that allude to the protagonist's situations and desires. In the music lesson, we see a young woman standing at a virginal, while a man, perhaps her instructor or her suitor, stands to the right, resting his arm upon the instrument, watching and listening attentively. His lips are slightly parted, which suggests that he may be singing. We sense that the melody being played is soft, delicate, and perhaps hesitant, and we almost find ourselves holding our breath so as not to disturb this extremely intimate moment. Everything about this painting has been very carefully orchestrated, and no object is there by accident. The vanishing point of this painting converges upon the woman, more specifically upon her left sleeve, highlighting her as the main focus around which the rest of the painting revolves. The small hole that Vermeer used to insert a pin attached to his string in order to construct his orthogonals can still be seen. Let's take a closer look at this woman and at my favourite part of the painting. From behind, the woman appears to be looking down at the keys of the virginal. However, in the ebony framed Vermeer's reflection, she is seen looking further to the right towards her instructor, perhaps with desire or perhaps seeking approval. Technical examinations have revealed that Vermeer originally painted the girl looking towards the man as seen in the mirror now, and when he eventually changed her stance, he left her original reflection as was. His decision to keep this noticeable discrepancy is the magic of this painting. He has consciously manipulated reality to give the painting a greater psychological depth. In this painting, the mirror acts as a window to the girl's soul and grants us the viewer with a privileged insight into her innermost thoughts. It suggests that the figures are in the early stages of love when one is timid, hesitant and apprehensive, but when the chemistry is palpable. The mirror also holds another secret that rewards those who look closely. Behind the girl, we see the crossbar and leg of the artist's easel, so Vermeer has inserted his presence into the narrative reminding us that as the artist, he is in full control. There is a significant amount of distance between the picture plane and the figures, suggesting a sense of intimacy between them, which we are unable to breach. Indeed, the table covered with an oriental tapestry and the chair placed behind it form a protective barrier around them, thus preserving their private communication. We are not a part of this story, we are simply looking in. A viola da gamba and white wine jug also stand between us and the figures. The viola da gamba, with its deep tone and heavy stature, is often associated with men. While the soft curves of the wine jug perhaps echo the woman's figure. This suggestive criss-cross of illusions ties the figures together, again symbolizing their love. Let me know what you think of Vermeer's masterpiece, as well as what else you would like to see from me.