Johannes Vermeer (1632 – 1675) was a painter of the Dutch Baroque period recognized as one of the greatest painters of the Dutch Golden Age.

The Dutch Golden Age was a unique period in the history of the Netherlands spanning the era from 1581 to 1672 in which its political, economic, and cultural greatness was among the most powerful and influential in the world.

Dutch painting includes some of the most outstanding painters in history, such as Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669), Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675), Pieter Brueghel the Elder (1525-1569), Jan Steen (1626-1679), Hieronymus Bosch (1450-1516) and Vincent van Gogh (1853 – 1 890). Each Dutch master had his own specialty showing off his unique skill and attention to detail.

paintings of everyday life

There are thirty-four paintings attributed to Johannes Vermeer depicting everyday life for the 17th-century middle class, with almost all of his paintings located in two small rooms in his house in Delft displaying the same furnishings and often portraying the same people.

At that time, the most prestigious cultural works emphasized aristocratic, military, and religious life, such as the great Renaissance artists who produced magnificent paintings of Saints, Angels, and kings, queens, and aristocrats that were celebrated on the most beautiful canvases.

Johannes Vermeer, however, wanted to show that ordinary life and daily activities are heroic in their own unique way, such as keeping a tidy house, sweeping the garden, babysitting, sewing, or a kitchen helper preparing lunch. These works are notable for their serene and timeless sense of dignity.

Vermeer wanted to represent through his paintings:

*a life rich in character

* Ordinary life is worth celebrating.

These are the gifts of life that are rewarded and blessed by God.

Famous paintings by Johannes Vermeer

The little street (1657-58)

The painting, “The Little Street” portrays a quiet street scene in Vermeer’s hometown of Delft (famous for its ceramics and Delftware products). It depicts a woman sewing, children playing, and a woman busy in the yard.

It highlights typical life in Delft during the Dutch Golden Age and is on display at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

The Little Street is one of only three Vermeer paintings of views of Delft, the others being View of Delft and House Standing in Delft, now lost.

This simple street scene has become one of the greatest paintings in the world.

The Lacemaker (1669-70)

Exhibited in the Louvre, Paris.

The painting depicts a peaceful setting of a young woman dressed in a yellow shawl and concentrating on her craft with bobbin lace and pin in hand.

Girl with a Pearl Earring (1665)

Known as the Mona Lisa of the North, it has been on display in the Mauritshuis in The Hague since 1902 and is one of Vermeer’s most iconic paintings. The Dutch public considers it the most beautiful painting in the Netherlands.

The Milkmaid (1654-58)

The exact year of the Milk Maid painting is estimated to be 1658 by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Sometimes called The Kitchen Maid, it is a painting depicting a domestic kitchen maid pouring milk into a container. The counter is stacked with bread, the crusts and the gleaming forehead of the maid standing out in the sunlight.

View of Delft (1659-1661)

The image depicts the skyline of Vermeer’s hometown and was painted at a time when cityscapes were rare and buildings moved ever so slightly to make the city feel less crowded. The painting has been kept in the Royal Dutch Cabinet of Paintings in the Mauritshuis in The Hague since its establishment in 1822.