I like what you said about use of camera obscura not being cheating. People always use the best tools they can.

May I offer an observation I made while painting a copy of this Vermeer? Look closely at the wall that is seen between the top edge of the pitcher and the bottom edge of her right forearm. That is called " negative space". I am focusing on the value of the paint in this small, crescent shaped area. By 'value' I mean the relative lightness or darkness of the pigment used. It appears to me that Vermeer altered the value of the background in this negative space. It is lighter than it should be. It is lighter than the rest of the wall around it. I think this was an intentional choice on Vermeer's part. If the wall in this small space were as dark as the rest of the wall in the general area, we would lose the important contrast between the wall, the arm and the pitcher. It has always been a pet peeve of mine, that people generally and erroneously refer to this painting as The Milk Maid. On the strength of Huydecoper's clarification of this subject, I have subscribed !!!

Such a peaceful, intimate and fragile painting. I love it!

WONDERFUL as always Carel!! I will never forget the moment I first walked into the room with the Vermeers in that museum back in the 80s and gasped out loud … I didn’t know anything back then, no idea who Vermeer was, but his works absolutely took my breath away !! Am very much looking forward to seeing them again one day, but next time with you!!

Who would have thought there is so much to learn and discover in this painting. I've never heard of the camera obscura usage in art, it really amazes me how creative these artists were in such a time!

Really well done. This is one of your best, and the painting has always been one of my favorite Vermeers. Pointing out the details of the distressed plaster wall behind her gives us real insight into Vermeer's mind. He took a lot of time with seemingly meaningless details, but, cumulatively, they have great meaning, and tell us something about life and art. The fine stream of milk shows her great care, too.

To me Vermeer is like the first photographer and Rembrandt like the first filmmaker. One extremely static and the other dynamic and full of movement and 'in addition to that artificial' light sources.

Thank you for this informative talk. 👏👏👏

What a fantastic painter

As usual a wonderful exposition. 👍

I initially though I was going to hate both you and the video, but quite to the contrary you did a great picture full justice and gave us a fascinating and interesting talk. Thank you, 25 minutes well spent.

Very good. Tim’s Vermeer is another documentary with information to consider.

Your channel is such a wonderful place of calm and education... Thank you for keeping up the excellent work. We really appreciate it!

Prima. Informatief!

Thanks ❣️

Great musicians have always used the latest technology and nobody ever questions their talent.

Wow- that was fascinating. Thanks so much. I am now a fan!

I have this vintage print. So did my grandfather. My grandfather was dutch. Love this art. ♥

He painted 'happiness', with the clear understanding that that is how life is meant to be.

I thought you added some clever image (which flashed up for a fraction of a second) to punctuate your point about elevating simple tasks to art. In this case I have found an artefact of the production and editing process, a simple task: making an animated subscribe and bell icon button. Now through my obsession with meticulous observation and the overwhelming joy I felt upon seeing this frame, I would have to say that this too has been elevated to art. I hope you take this as the light hearted comment it is, rather than criticism. I always enjoy your videos and leave having learned something. Take care and thank you for the chuckles 😉

excellent as usual, Carel, but we still lthink that the Vermeer exhibition currently in the Rjiksmusuem will be simply too crowded (200.000 tickets sold already) and it's not like the Bosch exhibition years ago - thanks, Pete

I have just found your channel. Brilliant and so wonderful to watch. Thank you!

10 feb - 4 june a wonderful Vermeer exposition will take place in the Rijksmuseum!

Vermeer is one of my favorite painters, and The Milkmaid is my favorite work of his. When first I saw it I was struck by the utter peace and calm reflected in this painting. Thank you for the insights into the details and meaning in the painting. Count me a new subscriber!

Art is a competition (as you go on the describe), it is a competition for commissions and money and sales (you poi t out how artists would be secretive about their methods to retain their competitive advantage. Nevertheless, I agree that there is no such thing as cheating at art. If using a camera obscura is cheating at art, the certainly using a camera would also be cheating (and yet we consider great photographers 'artists'.

Matthias Rozemond heeft een mooi boek ( Het melkmeisje) over Vermeer en dit schilderij geschreven. Het is historische fictie.

The Milkmaid's Tale ❤

Or, maybe the woman in the View of Delft is the same woman as depicted in The Milkmaid.

I heard that you may give a tour for the Mart. We are coming May 24th to Amsterdam. Will you be there and are you available for a guided tour?

So first you said there is no cheating in art, then you said that artists are secretive about methods to not reveal it to their competitors..?