JOHANNES VERMEER'S 'THE LOVE LETTER' (1670): A MASTERPIECE OF DUTCH GOLDEN AGE

Jan 7, 2024

2 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

Johannes Vermeer, The Love Letter (c. 1669-1670), oil on canvas

Johannes Vermeer's The Love Letter, painted around 1669-1670, shows a woman with a cittern receiving a letter from her maid, seen through a darkened doorway. The small canvas measures about 44 by 38.5 centimetres and is kept in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it is one of the museum's best-loved Vermeers.

What is happening in The Love Letter?

We look from a dark foreground, past a half-drawn curtain and a chair, into a bright room. A woman in a yellow jacket pauses from her cittern as the maid hands her a letter. The maid smiles, and a seascape hangs on the wall behind them, hinting that the letter may come from someone across the water.

What do the objects tell us?

In Dutch painting of the period, a musical instrument often hinted at love, and the sea was a common image of the lover's voyage. The slippers and the broom in the foreground suggest a household interrupted. Vermeer does not tell us the letter's contents; he lets the objects set the mood.

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Johannes Vermeer's "The Love Letter" (1670) is a classic representation of the Dutch Golden Age's art. Vermeer's skillful use of light and detail captures an intimate moment, reflecting the era's emphasis on realism and domestic scenes. This artwork is significant for those interested in the intricate and thoughtful art of the 17th century. For more details on this print and its cultural significance, visit here.