The guitar player

“The guitar player” is one of the painting that Johannes Vermeer that included female and music instrument as a subject in painting, and this is also one of the painting that using camera obscura as a positioning of an art work.

            In 17^th century, female is popular to be subject in a painting, and Johannes Vermeer had this intension from the artwork “lady and the landscape” and therefore he painted this painting. This painting is mainly conveying the beauty of female and to show the young lady is enjoying while she is playing guitar. The young lady being painted in this art work is daughter of Johannes Vermeer, her name is Maria and her age is just around 17 or 18 in when this painting is done, she is chosen because she suits the young women sunny disposition. Colour of her dress is in warm colour to show young and cherish of a young lady, and her yellow jacket and satin dress had reflected the fashion of middle class in 17^th century.

 According to art history, music is playing an important part in European society, besides, music is also one of the methods of flirting in 17^th century, and baroque guitar is the most common instrument can be found during that period, so he had chosen the baroque guitar as the main subject in this painting. Other than that, the book located at the right side had indicated as bible to represent holy text.

I found this painting is very interesting, Johannes Vermeer built his composition in different method, it is unusual than other painting, even the arm of young lady is cut by edge, but in the other hand, he had aligned the French gilt vertically axis with the girl's body and the sound hole of the guitar that stabilizes the otherwise unusual composition. Besides, the young lady not drawn inward but looking through outward, this method is similar to photo taking method nowadays, it can brings audience to guess what is going to happen next.