Customer Reviews

Vermeer, 1632-1675: Veiled Emotions (Basic Art)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Norbert Schneider has written many excellent books on art and among them is this small volume in which he addresses ALL of the paintings of Vermeer. Though the book is short (96 pages) it mirrors the output of the artist - he only painted thirty five works! Schneider's commentary is intelligent, brief, and in obvious adoration of the Dutch School of painting and Vermeer in particular. Not only is each painting reproduced with surprising accuracy of color and clarity, but Schneider provides many details of each work, opening the Pandora's box of each of these little masterpieces with microscopic precision. As is gratefully the tradition at Taschen Books, the price is so affordable that in addition to adding to your own library, this very special art book can be an elegant and dignified gift for your friends!

This little book is amazing! The author discusses each of Vermeer's known 35 paintings, bringing intelligence and insight to the artist and his works. Though not much is known about Vermeer's life, we learn a fair amount about his techniques and the influences from which he drew. I found it extremely impressive and useful that when the author mentioned another artist or a painting that Vermeer knew, these were also pictured, so that I really learned a great deal about this fascinating artist's time as well.

All of Vermeer's paintings are shown, as are the works of other artists, and these are reproduced in color in combination with intelligent, informative notes.

Extremely well done, with beautiful color reproductions of each painting, this volume would be a bargain at double the price!

The pages of this remarkable little book on Vermeer are like the paintings they describe: although relatively few in number, the content is extraordinary. It's not just the quality of the reproductions that are superb (something I have come to expect from everything Taschen); the writing is informative and surprisingly engaging. While before reading this book I was aware that Vermeer's paintings could be divided into categories linked by common attributes, I didn't have a clue as to the underlying meanings. The author explains everything with precision while keeping the language simple. The writing style is objective and factual, with relevant historical reference. The insight I was able to gain from this book was exceptional. I was not previously aware of Vermeer's use of the camera obscura, and the author's explanation of how he rendered out-of-focus images has given my understanding and appreciation of his work new depth. The illustrations also bring common elements from several paintings together on the same page for comparison. This is definitely a contender for the best $10 ever spent!

I did love the reproductions, both full and detailed, however I was quite disappointed with much of the text and the author's position that Vermeer's art is nothing more than a commentary on the lack of morality in the women he paints. The author claims that, in virtually every Vermeer painting, the subject represents a social problem - specifically women who are vain, lazy or adulterous. I wish the book had fewer interpretations of the art.

This book is amazing. The artwork is very clear and well documented. The facts in this book also agree with other sources. An engaging read and was an amazing help in writing a paper.

i am enjoying the book, however, I expected a bigger size book, because the photografs look better.

Thank you four your attention.