Girl with the Red Hat

One of Vermeer's smallest works, this painting uses a wooden panel. The red hat, blue robe, and white collar form its main color structure. Vermeer also dealt in art and repeatedly headed Delft's Saint Luke's Guild. His widespread fame developed much later, in the nineteenth century.

A broad red hat sweeps sideways. Its bright area extends much farther than the small face beneath it.

The face turns back toward the viewer over a shoulder. The brief turn leaves some features in shadow.

A blue robe fills the lower left. Its saturated cool color is set beside the warm red above.

The white collar catches the light. The small bright band separates the face from the broad blue area.

White highlights mark a carved wooden lion finial on the chair. Short strokes convey its sheen without describing every surface.

The small format asks for close viewing, where individual highlights and soft edges become conspicuous. Vermeer produced relatively few paintings, and this work offers a distinct example of his experiments with color and illumination.