A Lady Writing and Woman Holding a Balance

Above all, Johannes Vermeer was a painter of light. In this exquisite painting, diffused light softly illuminates the tabletop, the woman’s face, and her rich lemon-yellow morning jacket. Woman Holding a Balance, on the other hand, is a superb example of Johannes Vermeer’s exquisite sense of stability and rhythm. The woman is so pensive that the viewer almost hesitates to intrude on her quiet moment of contemplation.