Art lecture 'Johannes Vermeer'

Senior Citizens Association Beek and Donk is holding an art lecture on the theme 'Johannes Vermeer. It will be held at the Meeting Centre.

Even before the opening, the Vermeer exhibition at the Rijksmuseum turned out to be sold out. Extended opening hours and special evenings led to some space. But partly due to international interest, it remained difficult to get tickets. This shows once again that Vermeer's oeuvre is not a national art property. It is known to all corners of the world. So are Vermeer's paintings so unique, so rare or beautiful? For the board of senior citizens' association Beek en Donk, at least, it is a reason to put him in the spotlight. 

They are not large, spectacular or dramatic, they are hushed scenes of limited dimensions meant to adorn the rooms in the homes of prominent citizens. Johannes Vermeer's life was similarly unspectacular. He was an antiques and fabrics dealer, painter and headman of the Lucas guild, father of 14 children, nine of whom reached adulthood. A modest, balanced man who did not play the celebrated artist, but was a craftsman who simply had to put bread on the table. He sadly lived to be only 43 and during his lifetime, as far as is known today, he produced only 45 paintings. Today, 35 of them remain. There were 28 of them on display in Amsterdam. So why the massive rush? 

He was obviously a superior craftsman which was coupled with an outstanding painting talent. But there were several of those in his time. But for most of them, half a million art lovers did not come to Amsterdam to see 28 paintings. Perhaps they came because of the mysteries that have formed around Vermeer over time. What is so special about a kitchen maid putting milk in a jug? Or a girl looking in the mirror while wearing a pearl necklace? Or a portrait of a girl wearing a pearl earring? Could it then perhaps be the extraordinary of the ordinary? Johannes Vermeer made paintings with question marks. 

Dr Ger Jacobs will explore this further during his lecture. But don't expect solutions, but possibilities. Riddles must remain riddles. Members of the senior citizens' association pay €5.00 and non-members €6.50, this includes a cup of coffee or tea.