Veermer’s composition depicts a young woman looking out of a window as she tunes her lute. Open tunes and a viola da gamba on the floor indicate that she is preparing for a duet. Wealthy young people in the Dutch Republic studied music as part of their education and amateur concerts provided a good opportunity to flirt. The map of Europe in the background reflects the decoration of Dutch homes at the time, a sign of pride in the nation’s pre-eminence in navigation and cartography.
Collection: Images
Project: 11. Science and culture as representation in Europe., 4. Family, daily life and social inequality in Europe., 8. Women and the change for gender equality in Europe.
Chronology: XVII
Scope: Secondary Education, Baccalaureate, University
Link: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/437880
Resource type: Image
Format: Oil on canvas (51,4 x 44,9 cm)
Source: Museo Metropolitano de Nueva York (Nueva York)
Language: English
Date: 1662-63
Owner: Álvaro Romero González (Modernalia)
Identifier: 25.110.24
Copyright: Museo Metropolitano de Nueva York (Nueva York)
Abstract: Everyday scene of a woman in an interior playing the lute while looking out of the window and concentrating on the melody
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