Young girl with a flute by Johannes Vermeer

Belonging among the most daring head studies of the Dutch Golden Age, this tight portrait charms through its lighting vitality and modern framing. Bearing the title “Young girl with a flute”, this fascinating canvas attributed to Jan Vermeer captures the features of a young model wearing a Asian straw hat. The artist orchestrates a subtle dialogue between shadow and clarity to reveal the face’s sensitivity.

The young person depicted in bust length turns toward the viewer, head tilted beneath the brim of a conical hat with dark and light stripes. Dark hair surrounds fixed light eyes and slightly parted pink lips expressing candid surprise. She wears a dark jacket adorned with a wide band of white fur on the front and a light fabric collar setting off her neck. In the background, a tapestried surface in ocher and dark brown shades brings great plastic richness around the silhouette. Side light hits the right cheek and fur lapel.

Jan Vermeer demonstrates exceptional craftsmanship in juxtaposing pure paint touches and working with chiaroscuro. His command of oil pigments gives lips and fur an altogether admirable freshness and aesthetic quality.