Johannes Vermeer (1632 - 1675) is famous for his genre scenes of characters interrupted in their everyday activities, often in intimate and serene interiors. ‘The Geographer’, along with ‘The Astronomer’, occupy a distinctive place in his works for two reasons:
They represent scientists at work;
They are the only paintings of the Delft masters in which men are the sole subjects.
Subject and Composition
A man, dressed in a Japanese-style robe - the Dutch Republic was the only European commercial partner of Japan - bends over a table with maps and books, holding a pair of dividers in his hand. His gaze is directed out the window, absorbed in his thoughts, as if he has had a flash of inspiration or the need to step away to tconsider his discoveries. The quick “eureka” moment is suggested by the geographer’s face, slightly blurred because of movement.
He stands in a room surrounded by maps, globes and other instruments, reminding him of…
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