Vermeer’s Geographer
Published by Yazad Jal August 22nd, 2003 in Art / LiteratureA print of this painting by the Dutchman Jan Vermeer hangs opposite my desk in the office. The intensity and concentarion of the geographer inspires me to stop wandering and get back to the work at hand!
Update: Forgotten Delights has an interesting description of the painting.
Vermeer, who is exceptionally skilled at portraying details, has shown hardly any distinctive features on this man’s face - no bone structure, little variation in skin tone. Even his hair is an undistinguished brown, shoved behind his ears to keep it out of the way. The only facial feature that stands out is his eyes, narrowed in concentration, looking toward the light from the window. The absence of detail and the emphasis on the eyes indicate that this is not a portrait of a specific individual, but of a thinker.
There’s a delightful site dedicated to Vermeer with all his paintings online.
Please, if you support the will of the Iranian people in their struggle for freedom please visit http://www.activistchat.com/blogiran/ - and joing with blogs around the world against this fanatic repressive regime..
Haleh
I love the painting. It’s awesome and I love staring at it.
Point me if I am wrong, but you say The intensity and concentarion of the geographer inspires me to stop wandering and get back to the work at hand! But isn’t the geographer glancing out of his window??
Posted an update that should help you with a deeper understanding of the painting.
Actually, yeah, either he’s engrossed in work and thinking about it, or he’s wondering where he left that other sock or just maybe, he’s spotted some “hubba hubba hubba” walking past the window. That’s what makes a great - you can interpret it the way you want to :)
Since I don’t know jack about “art”, I think he’s wondering how to use those chopsticks he’s holding. :p
Um, and what’s “concentarion”?
The language Nazi strikes again!!! Those are called a “divider” we used them in school as well. Forgot your geometry lessons?
MadMan and me (me taking half credit from MadMan) are still scratching our heads wondering what “concentarion” is.
Yaz, it’s so much fun to point out mistakes of a perfectionist like you.
Sampada maybe Yazad could enroll in your class if it isn’t too advanced for him.
Those are called a “divider” we used them in school as well.
Yazad stand up on the bench and write “That is called a divider. We used it in school as well.” 100 times
MadMan and me
Of course, Sampada meant to write “MadMan and I” but these things do happen. ;)
You say it’s a divider. I say they could be chopsticks. For one, it looks more like wood than steel. Then it looks like his middle finger is between them. He could also be reading a manual on using chopsticks. Yes, this is clearly a man who likes his Chinese food and wants to learn how to use chopsticks.
Art is all about interpretation, kids. :p
Picking up the thread from MadMan’s previous comment…
The man in the painting has just had take-away Chinese food. Being a perfectionist, he used chopsticks, rather than a fork. But something in the food has disagreed with his stomach and he stands near the window bent over his desk, with the chopsticks still in his hands trying to hold back an urge to puke.
I think that’s enough blasphemy for the moment! :-P
Madman / Sameer, I’ll take your word that you two know nothing about art. You don’t have to demonstrate your ignorance. Plus just typing in Vermeer and geographer in Google will get you enough to start your education. Maybe this book is a good starting point.
Masterji (aka Ravikiran), this is for you:
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