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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Title | The Geographer, Johannes Vermeer |
| Library | Städel Museum |
| Date | 1669 |
| Description | The painting depicts a scholar in a housecoat, engrossed in his work: maps, the globe on the cupboard and the dividers in his hand identify him as a geographer. Specialized literature, distributed throughout the room, further emphasises the theoretical foundation of his work: he literally uses a book as a support. Yet he interrupts his rational quantifications and pauses for a moment to gaze at the real world outside his window. The scene thus ultimately serves as a symbol of Vermeer’s own work, which draws from both sources equally – perspectival construction as well as the vivid character of everyday objects as they appear in light and space. The former is based on a precise science, the latter remains the domain of art and is the true reason for the fame of Vermeer’s painting. |
| Document Type | Painting |
| Primary Commodity | Miscellaneous |
| Theme | Exploration and Discovery; Art and Literature |
| Keywords | carpets, colony, commerce, empire, furniture, navigation |
| Region | Europe |
| Copyright | Vermeer van Delft, Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main, © Städel Museum - ARTOTHEK |