Many modern portrait style art commissions take inspiration from Vermeer. Portrait art is intended to depict a specific human subject and the attributes of their life. Johannes Vermeer helped to shape this genre in the 17th century, and his influence has remained strong in the modern art world. To explore this, we will analyze his painting entitled Young Woman with a Lute (ca.1662–1663).
This painting depicts a young woman looking out of the window as she tunes her lute in preparation for a duet, likely with the mysterious man for whom her gaze awaits. Music during this time, much like portraiture itself, was exclusive to elites and noble individuals of high society. The objects we see hold as much power as the subject herself, symbolizing wealth, young love, and the spirituality of the musical craft.
Vermeer’s reflection of high society musicians and their instruments define how music-inspired art commissions are developed in the 21st century. Fans of Vermeer would appreciate the depiction of inanimate objects to imply important aspects of the subject’s life. Much like how the historic subject of Vermeer caresses her prized lute, art commissions today can focus on the kindered feelings that musicians attach to their instruments.