In this catalogue for the exhibition, Walter Liedtke, Curator of Paintings at the Metropolitan, drawing on the Museum's five Vermeers, scenes by other Dutch masters in the Museum's collection, including Pieter de Hooch, Gabriel Metsu, Nicolaes Maes, and Emanuel de Witte, and several works on paper, places the picture in the context of the artist's brief career and relates it to contemporary developments in Dutch art. In addition to an extended discussion of the painting's provenance, he provides a detailed study of the composition, the several revisions made during the course of execution, and the subtle relationships between light and shadow, color, contour, and shape. And he proposes a most intriguing argument for an erotic subtext, pointing out that, like maids and kitchen maids in earlier Netherlandish art, the figure in The Milkmaid was meant to attract the male viewer, to rouse in him temptation and restraint, desire and reservation, while the kitchen maid herself, endowed with traits typically reserved for higher-class women and surrounded by references to romance both literal and oblique, is presented as having amorous thoughts of her own.

Johannes Vermeer's luminous paintings are loved and admired around the world, yet we do not understand how they were made. We see sunlit spaces; the glimmer of satin, silver, and linen; we see the softness of a hand on a lute string or letter. We recognise the distilled impression of a moment of time; and we feel it to be real. We might hope for some answers from the experts, but they are confounded too. Even with the modern technology available, they do not know why there is no evidence of any preliminary drawing; why there are shifts in focus; and why his pictures are unusually blurred. Some wonder if he might possibly have used a camera obscura to capture what he saw before him. The few traces Vermeer has left behind tell us little: there are no letters or diaries; and no reports of him at work. Jane Jelley has taken a new path in this detective story. A painter herself, she has worked with the materials of his time: the cochineal insect and lapis lazuli; the sheep bones, soot, earth, and rust. She shows us how painters made their pictures layer by layer; she investigates old secrets; and hears travellers' tales. She explores how Vermeer could have used a lens in the creation of his masterpieces. The clues were there all along. After all this time, now we can unlock the studio door, and catch a glimpse of Vermeer inside, painting light.

The Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer is considered one of the principal genre painters of the 17th century. His oeuvre, composed of only 35 attributable works, displays an unprecedented level of artistic mastery in its consummate illusion of reality. In this fully illustrated Grove Art Essentials title, explore the biography and work of the enigmatic artist. In addition to an extensive bibliography, this volume, written by noted scholar of 17th century Dutch art history, Wayne Franits, delves into the artist's working methods and techniques, iconography, and discusses the modern rediscovery and critical reception that has installed Vermeer as one of the most celebrated and most closely studied masters of the art historical cannon.

This retrospective of the photographer Uta Barth traces her use of the camera to explore both how and what we see. Los Angeles–based contemporary artist Uta Barth (b. 1958) has spent her decades-long career exploring the complexities and limits of human and mechanical vision. At first, her photographs appear to be deceptively simple depictions of everyday objects—light filtering through a window, tree branches bereft of leaves, a sparsely appointed domestic interior—but these images, visually spare yet conceptually rigorous, emerge from her investigation of sight, perception, light, and time. In this richly illustrated monograph, curator Arpad Kovacs and contributors Lucy Gallun and Jeremy Gilbert-Rolfe chart Barth’s career path and discuss her most significant series, revealing how she has rejected the primacy of a traditional photographic subject and instead called attention to what is on the periphery. The book includes previously unpublished bodies of work made early in her career that add much to our understanding of this important artist. Also included is Barth’s most recent work, ...from dawn to dusk, an ambitious commission marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Getty Center.

Ut pictura amor: The Reflexive Imagery of Love in Artistic Theory and Practice, 1500-1700 examines the related themes of lovemaking and image-making in the visual arts of Europe, China, Japan, and Persia. The term ‘reflexive’ is here used to refer to images that invite reflection not only on their form, function, and meaning, but also on their genesis and mode of production. Early modern artists often fashioned reflexive images and effigies of this kind, that appraise love by exploring the lineaments of the pictorial or sculptural image, and complementarily, appraise the pictorial or sculptural image by exploring the nature of love. Hence the book’s epigraph—ut pictura amor—‘as is a picture, so is love’.

Plain Aesthetics is an introduction to philosophical aesthetics and the philosophy of art written for all audiences. While students studying philosophy will find it informative, it is specifically constructed to be accessible to anyone, even those with no background in philosophy. It contains no jargon or technical language, except where such terms are defined at their point of use. Philosophers and theorists are discussed only where appropriate, and their views explained in context. Plain Aesthetics is written as a conversation between the author and the reader, and employs a great many examples of fascinating and influential artworks. Images and other works are presented to the reader both within the text and through an innovative interactive system. This book makes aesthetics accessible to everyone.

Mund, Lippen, Zunge und Zähne – Sprache, Schmerz und Schrei – Essen, Schlingen, Speien und Spucken – Lust und Leidenschaft: Die Mundhöhle ist im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes eine äußerst reizvolle Körperzone. Ihrer Erkundung haben sich dabei nicht nur Wissenschaft und Medizin gewidmet, Gleiches gilt auch für die Kunst- und Kulturgeschichte – von der Antike bis zur Gegenwart. Diesen breit gefächerten motivgeschichtlichen Pfad verfolgt das Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg im Herbst 2020 erstmals in einer umfassenden Ausstellung rund um den Mund. Der begleitende Bildband bietet mit seinen anschaulichen Essays nicht nur inhaltliche Vertiefungsebenen an, sondern reicht weit über die Ausstellung hinaus. Hier wird der Mund mit seinen Fähigkeiten auch im Bereich der Filmgeschichte, Ethnologie, Literaturwissenschaften und Architektur unter die Lupe genommen.

Thinking about Art explores some of the greatest works of art and architecture in the world through the prism of themes, instead of chronology, to offer intriguing juxtapositions of art and history. The book ranges across time and topics, from the Parthenon to the present day and from patronage to ethnicity, to reveal art history in new and varied lights. With over 200 colour illustrations and a wealth of formal and contextual analysis, Thinking about Art is a companion guide for art lovers, students and the general reader, and is also the first A-level Art History textbook, written by a skilled and experienced teacher of art history, Penny Huntsman. The book is accompanied by a companion website at www.wiley.com/go/thinkingaboutart.

During the 1600s in Holland, world trade, artistic expression, and freedom flourished. Artists such as Hals, Vermeer, and Rembrandt gave rise to this period of Dutch art being called the Golden Age. What does the reviewer think of various works by these Dutch Masters? Will you agree or disagree? Will you want to view more works of art by one, several, or all of the artists? Read these reviews to find out.

"Colour Theory, Elements of Art, and Principles of Art" is a comprehensive guide for both artists and art enthusiasts alike, exploring the fundamentals of art and design. The book delves into the intricacies of colour theory, examining the science behind how colours interact and the psychology of colour in art. It provides readers with a thorough understanding of colour palettes, colour harmony, and the use of colour in conveying emotions and meanings. Moving onto the elements of art, the book explores the building blocks of art, including line, shape, form, texture, space, and value. Readers will learn how to effectively use these elements to create dynamic compositions and convey meaning in their work. Finally, the book delves into the principles of art, which serve as guidelines for creating visually appealing and engaging artwork. These principles include balance, contrast, unity, proportion, rhythm, and emphasis, and the book provides examples of how each can be used effectively in art and design. Throughout the book, readers will find practical tips and techniques for implementing these concepts in their own artwork, as well as numerous examples of art from a variety of mediums and styles. With its clear and accessible writing style and comprehensive coverage of these essential topics, "Colour Theory, Elements of Art, and Principles of Art" is an essential resource for anyone interested in improving their understanding and mastery of art and design.