Woman in Blue Reading a Letter — Johannes Vermeer

Johannes Vermeer. Painted c. 1663.

Enjoying a quiet, private moment, this young woman is absorbed in reading a letter in the morning light. She is still wearing her blue night jacket. All of the colours in the composition are secondary to its radiant lapis lazuli blue. Vermeer recorded the effects of light with extraordinary precision. Particularly innovative is his rendering of the woman’s skin with pale grey, and the shadows on the wall using light blue.

From the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

canvas, oil paint (paint) · Original size: 39 × 46.5 cm · On loan from the City of Amsterdam (A. van der Hoop Bequest)

Print: 39 × 46.5 cm, printed on Hahnemühle FineArt archival cotton paper. Museum-grade reproduction quality, true to the colours and detail of the original work.

Frame (optional): a custom-made wooden frame in a matte black finish, cut to the exact dimensions of this print, with an off-white passe-partout mat and protective glazing. Ready to hang.

Source: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200108372. Image released under CC0 by the Rijksmuseum.