Assignment 3: Art Appreciation & Criticism

WOMAN HOLDING A BALANCE

Johannes Vermeer, Woman Holding a Balance, oil on canvas, C.1662-1665, National Gallery of Art, Widener Collection.

The true interpretation of this painting is unknown however there are several interpretations from the artists. The painting is interpreted as a vanitas painting as it represents as divine truth, religious meditative aid and incitement to balance life. (Vermeer and Plato: Painting the Ideal, 2005). Some interpreted that the woman is ‘symbolically weighing unborn souls’ of human with her empty scale in balance (John Michael Montias, 1938-2005). There is also interpretation saying that the weighing process that the woman carried and the Last Judgment painting on wall show the trinkets of the world are vanities which might too little in the scales. (Masterpieces of Western Art, 2002). The mirror on wall may refer to self-knowledge but also symbolize the sin of vanity, so do the pearls and gold. The Last Judgment painting shows Christ as weigher of souls, with this hidden meaning in the painting, shows that the woman is holding a scale in balance and contemplates the life free from wealth temptation in order to be judged favourably on Judgment Day. (Gardner’s Art through the Ages: A Global History, 2009).

For the imitative, the painting shows the woman in Dutch costume, waiting, holding and starring at the scale. The Last Judgment painting also shows the depiction of various saints included in the work holding instruments of their martyrdom.

For the emotionalism, it shows a calm expression on the woman’s face. The scale she hold symbolize as justice, mirror as vanity, pearl and gold chains as wealth, the Last Judgment painting as religious basis of the woman. The blue mentalge(jacket) represents the middle or upper class social status in the 17^th century. The blue colour in the painting represents as immaterialism. 

For my own interpretation towards this painting, the woman seem like ignoring the pearls, gold and coins that placed on the table, she only focus on the scale that she hold. Scale was represented justice, from this scene, it might shows that the woman think that justice is more important than materialism. She look alike waiting for the scale to become balance. But, from her eyes level, she not really staring at the scale, she is more like focus her concentration on her own thinking or mind. She looks like thinking with the appearance of staring on the scale. What was the woman thinking? Here comes the other question.the overall painting shows the waiting motion. Perhaps the woman is waiting and wonder when the human will care of justice more than wealth. Besides, the Last Judgment painting is painted behind the woman. Why was it drawn? It might showing the religious of the woman. From the painting, we could see that the Christ is judging the human soul as the weigher. It might also reflect the hidden message that final judgment on human with bad sin. The woman might believed that the final judgment would fell onto the human so she is ignoring the pearl, golds and coins in front. 

This is the painting that I have chosen for the assignment 3 and I have added on my own interpretation towards the painting. 

I posted on and hope that Sir could give some comments on it and I think this would be helpful for my interpretation and further learning.
Picture Credit: Taken from - 

http://www.google.com.my/imgres?q=woman+holding+a+balance&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=mppYQtGiyQTbfM:&imgrefurl=http://www.nga.gov/feature/vermeer/moment3.shtm&docid=npBVe1u421hKCM&w=359&h=400&ei=VahTTtTXMI_SrQe629GsDg&zoom=1&biw=1064&bih=479

References: 

Walther, F, I. , Suckale, R. (2002). Masterpieces of Western Art. Baroque in the Netherlands.    Retrived August 10, 2011 from http://books.google.com/books?id=G7NuIFzDcZcC&pg=RA2-PA332#v=onepage&q&f=false

Kleiner, F, S. (2009). Gardner’s Art through the Ages.  A Global History.  Retrived August 10, 2011 from http://books.google.com.my/books?id=beCbtH9HJXUC&pg=PR3&dq=artist+interpretation+of+woman+holding+a+balance&hl=en&ei=gaJHTqr0D8P4rQePn5HYCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDQQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=artist%20interpretation%20of%20woman%20holding%20a%20balance&f=false

Steadman, P. (2002). Vermeer's camera: uncovering the truth behind the masterpieces. Vermeer’s camera. Retrieved  August 8, 2011 from http://books.google.com.my/books?id=9Xu6lJc2Nt8C&pg=PA110&dq=analysis+woman+holding+a+balance&hl=en&ei=LZw_TpyfMsTMrQfrlsQa&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CFgQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=analysis%20woman%20holding%20a%20balance&f=false

Snow, E, A. (1994) A study of Vermeer. Meaning in Vermeer. Retrieved August 6, 2011 from http://books.google.com.my/books?id=lLtM6F0gH6EC&pg=PA152&dq=artist+interpretation+of+woman+holding+a+balance&hl=en&ei=AaVHTuyRO4SGrAe76OiOBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCkQ6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=artist%20interpretation%20of%20woman%20holding%20a%20balance&f=false