The Era of Vermeer. The Mysterious Genius of Baroque and the Dawn of Modern Times

Jan Vermeer died three and a half centuries ago, living only 43 years. He left behind about 30 small paintings. These are not epic battle scenes, they do not depict famous people or significant events. There is no Rembrandt-like drama or Rubens-like exuberance. These are subtle, intimate works that breathe tranquility. This is the soft light streaming in from the window. These are ordinary people immersed in their world, engaged in everyday tasks. Here is a woman reading a letter. Here is another one playing the lute. A lace maker leans over her work. The artist is painting a picture.
Why is it that precisely these few and seemingly unremarkable works still captivate our attention and hold so many mysteries? Why do debates about their provenance, numerous forgeries and imitations persist? Why does each Vermeer painting attract crowds of viewers, no matter what exhibition it appears in, and why does every museum fortunate enough to own even one work by the master cherish it like a true treasure?
Alexandra Persheeva, a candidate of art history, a specialist in semiotics and general theory of art, a lecturer at the School of Design at HSE University, co-author of popular online courses on art and design (the total number of course listeners has already exceeded 100,000), in her book not only talks about Vermeer’s paintings but also becomes a guide for the reader into the world of Dutch art, vividly painting the picture of the era that formed what is essential to modernity: science, rational thinking, international trade, the free art market. It becomes clear in what context Vermeer’s creativity emerged and why it became exactly what we know it as today. Alexandra will reveal to the reader the depth and charm of Jan Vermeer’s painting, showing how he influenced and continues to influence world art and why today, centuries after the master’s death, his works remain attractive to us.