Jan vermeer woman holding a balance

Symbolism

Like many of his contemporaries, Vermeer's genre pictures included a wealth of symbolism which imparted a serious message to an otherwise mundane subject.

The woman is depicted standing quietly, almost Madonna-like, in front of a mirror. On the wall behind her hangs a black-framed picture of the Last Judgment, which represents the spiritual concerns and judgment of Christ; in front of her is a table strewn with pearls, a gold chain and other items of jewellery, which represent Man's material possessions.

The empty scale, held lightly between her slim fingers, shows that she is weighing spiritual rather than material considerations. There is a complete lack of tension or conflict in her portrayal: on the contrary, she is utterly serene in the self-knowledge (represented by her reflection in the mirror) that the righteous approach is to lead a life of moderation, in the expectation of God's final judgment.

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