Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window by Johannes Vermeer.
(Photo: Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden / Wolfgang Kreische)
JohannesVermeeris an intriguing artist.
In fact, only 34 paintingsincluding his famousGirl with the Pearl Earringare attributed to him today.
“Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window” by Johannes Vermeer. 1657-1659. (Photo: Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden / Wolfgang Kreische)
And that’s exactly what’s happened with the announcement of a recent Vermeer restoration.
As often happens with Vermeer’s work, the painting was initially attributed to other artists.
Beneath the plain wall was actually a painting of a naked Cupid.
Left: “Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window” prior to restoration (Photo: Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden / Klut – Estel) | Right: “Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window” during restoration (Photo: Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden / Wolfgang Kreische)
Thus, restoration experts from the museum began carefully working to remove the overpainting in 2018.
Once the work was completed in early 2021, art historians could gain a new appreciation for the painting.
Beyond the ostensibly amorous context, it is about a fundamental statement about the nature of true love.
So before what we looked at was only rudimentary.
Now we understand it as a key image in his oeuvre.
