An exhibition at the Dutch National Museum is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Vermeer’s paintings have never been so widely exhibited before, and there won’t be a second time.
A group of tourists stand in front of the Rijksmuseum, the Dutch national museum, and are disappointed. Tickets for the art exhibition are no longer sold.
In January, a month before the opening, more than 100,000 tickets had been purchased. It was a record number for a prestigious museum with huge art collections.
When the museum put a batch of additional tickets on sale, they also went the fastest in an instant.
In the media, the exhibition has been called an art case and one of the most significant of all time.
The British broadcasting company BBC praises in its article that the stylish exhibition is truly a once-in-a-lifetime event.
The biggest Vermeer exhibition ever
Johannes Vermeer’s art has never before been exhibited in such an extensive exhibition.
The painter made just under 40 works during his lifetime. Now you can see most of them at once, a total of 28 paintings.
– This is exceptional and I can honestly say that this opportunity will not happen again, he continues.
It has been possible to borrow paintings from art museums around the world, which is an achievement.
Museums appeal to the fragility of the works, and for that reason they do not easily hand them over to the other side of the globe.
Later in this article, there is a video where you can see what kind of art treasures have been received at the Rijksmuseum.
The most famous is The Girl and the Pearl Earring
The girl’s mouth is slightly open and her lips are moist. He looks straight ahead. A blue scarf is wrapped around the head as a turban. A large pearl earring hangs from the earlobe.
The unknown beauty is now being watched from abroad. *Turban-headed girl*, more familiarly *Girl with a pearl earring* is the most famous of Johannes Vermeer’s paintings.
A long queue of admirers and mobile phone photographers also forms in front of *Maitotyttö* at the exhibition.
*Maitotyttö* is one of four Vermeer works belonging to the Rijksmuseum’s own collections.
In it, a woman pours milk from a pitcher into a clay pot. There is bread on the table. There are cracks and holes in the walls of the room. The window glass is broken and there is a foot warmer on the floor.
What fascinates the viewer in the paintings?
A creator of moods and a bringer of light
Art history experts find many reasons why those who have seen the exhibition praise Vermeer’s art on social media.
– Vermeer makes everyday things very special. It’s like time stands still when looking at his paintings.
The works are full of enigmatic symbolism and metaphor. Hidden messages can be found in visible objects or wall boards.
The paintings are fascinated by the mystical atmosphere and the light that often comes from the window on the left.
– Light makes Vermeer special. Light is depicted in the works in a way that no other artist can, says Taci Dibbits.
The viewer is like an eyewitness to an intimate moment: perhaps a woman is reading a letter from her lover.
– When you stand in front of Vermeer’s work, it’s like you’re stepping inside his painting. You are in the same state as the people on the board.
Big family and big debts
Johannes Vermeer was born in Delft, Holland. Father was an art dealer and silk weaver. Vermeer only painted a few paintings a year and also earned extra income by selling art.
What is interesting about Pieter Roelofs is that Vermeer’s works depict a completely different life than the artist’s own life.
– The family lived modestly and there must have been a lot of noise and noise at home because of the large number of children. However, the works have silence, peace and balance, says Roelofs.
Vermeer did not paint an actual self-portrait, or none has survived.
He made two works from his hometown of Delphi. One of them is called *Delft Street*.
Vermeer died in debt and poor at only 43 years old.
Up until the middle of the 19th century, he was a practically unknown greatness, and the value of his paintings was only understood long after his death.
Today he is considered one of the most famous painters of the golden age of Dutch art and he is one of the most famous artists in the world.
The art museum started preparations for the Vermeer exhibition already eight years ago.
Before its opening, art experts will examine Vermeer’s works using the latest technology.
Pieter Roelofs, head of the department of paintings and sculptures, says that a lot of new information has been gained about the artist and his works.
– We are now closer to a great artist than ever before.
*The Johannes Vermeer exhibition is at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam until June 4, 2023.*