# data[].attributes.headline
Which of my gifts would Vermeer appreciate the most?

# data[].attributes.subject
Which of my gifts would Vermeer appreciate the most?

# data[].attributes.body
I would wrap his gifts with stain-glassed patterned wrapping paper because he paints them in his paintings.

# data[].attributes.body
I did not realize how small Vermeer’s works were until I watched the documentary “The madness of Vermeer - Secret Lives of the Artists.” The documentary shows how small his paintings were, yet they were so detailed. I would give Vermeer a big canvas for his birthday because I am curious how his art would look on a bigger canvas. I think Vermeer would enjoy this gift because It would be a fun new challenge for him to create a big detailed piece. A technique that Vermeer uses is little dots for highlights, so I wonder if he would also use the same technique on a bigger surface.

107

# data[].attributes.body
It is believed that Vermeer might have used a camera obscura, similar to a pinhole camera, which would explain how Vermeer managed to make paintings look like still moments. I think Vermeer would have enjoyed using a camera because it would have made his process easier. By using a camera he could save more time, and perhaps create more pieces. I think if he were alive today he would probably appreciate photography because photography also involves capturing light. I think he would probably enjoy film cameras the most.

# data[].attributes.body
Often in his paintings, Vermeer includes jewelry like in one of his most famous paintings, “Girl with the Pearl Earring.” He mainly painted middle-class women in their everyday life. These women were surrounded by luxury goods, like beautiful fabrics, jewelry, and covered in luxurious clothes. I think Vermeer would appreciate this gift because he would be able to include them in his paintings and relieve his family from debt.

70

# data[].attributes.body
In Vermeer’s paintings, he included a lot of intricate carpets, curtains, and delicate clothing. In his piece, “The Art of Painting” a third of the painting is covered by curtains. He uses the curtains to include the viewer, and create the illusion that the audience is looking into the room. I think Vermeer would appreciate luxurious fabrics not only to include in his paintings, but also to help  his wife Catharina, and his children with debt after his death.

76

# data[].attributes.body
On the theme of light, I would also give Vermeer a crystal ball suncatcher pendant because I think it would provide another layer to intrigue the viewer. When the light hits the sun catchers it reflects the light in many directions, and sometimes will create tiny rainbows. I think Vermeer would enjoy this gift because it would be another opportunity for him to play with light. In his work, he wanted to leave interpretation up to the viewer. With the suncatcher, he can position it so it can guide the viewer’s eye and add another layer to interpret.

100

# data[].attributes.body
One of Vermeer’s qualities in his works is how beautifully he paints light. In the majority of his works, he paints soft natural light coming from a window. In some of his works like in “The Glass of Wine,” he incorporates stained glass windows. I think stained glass would be a thoughtful gift for Vermeer because it would be something he can use to play with light for his next painting. I would give him more colorful stained glass than the stained glass windows normally depicted in his paintings because I am curious how that would translate in his work.

100

# data[].attributes.body
There is no clear answer on what day Johannes Vermeer was born, but some sources say October 31, 1632, in the city of Delft in the Netherlands.  He was not the most well-known painter at his time, only because he produced a small number of works, about 45 paintings but only 36 that are known. Vermeer did not sign any of his paintings, he did date three of his paintings. Little is known about the Dutch painter, but it is believed he was self-taught. His paintings are known for how intimate they are, and he uses light. He mainly painted scenes of daily life, but in his earlier paintings, he depicted scenes from religion, mythology, and literature. A mystery about his works is how he managed to make his paintings look like snapshots. His birthday party will be held at the Rijksmuseum of Amsterdam because he painted it in his painting, “Little Street.” I chose Vermeer because I enjoy the amount of detail in his paintings, especially in “The Milkmaid.”