by Johannes Vermeer
Vermeer’s painting entitled ‘The Geographer’ presents another male figure similar to that of his other painting ‘The astronomer’, it was believe that there was a connection to these two paintings as they both highlight themes relating to the elevation of light and sun that gleam throughout the interior. This painting strikes a resemblance to Rembrandt Van Rjin painting ‘Faust’ in the way the whole idea of a person looking out onto a window, although an understanding of Vermeers inspiration linking to the painting may have been suggesting a development of the artwork.
The focal points in this painting are the recurring themes and surrounding objects around the male figure; the globe chart, the cross-staff, the divider and the whole composition of the painting. The composition of the painting allows us to directly see the way Vermeer has composed the canvas and to highlight the flow of light in the room and space around the man. The shadows or light, his stance, the scrolls/maps and the way he is holding the divider all directly in the same angle. The way in which his points the divider and the direction of where he’s facing all link to the angle of light shining upon the room allowing us to see the space around him. The presentation of the picture, where every component is situated and placed allows us to understand that the space or room may of been his workplace, given the instruments surrounding him.
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