The painting “Study of a Young Woman” is a work by Johannes Vermeer, created around 1665 to 1667. It is an oil painting on canvas with dimensions of 44.5 x 40 cm. This artwork, which falls into the Baroque art movement, is classified as a portrait or tronie and is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, New York, United States.
The artwork features an intimate portrayal of a young woman, possibly in her late teens or early twenties, viewed against a dark background that serves to highlight her figure. She gazes directly at the viewer with a sense of gentle engagement that is characteristic of Vermeer’s portraits. The woman is wearing a white headscarf that drapes down onto her shoulders, and her attire is modest and rendered with great care, capturing the textures and folds of the fabric. A defining feature of the work is Vermeer’s masterful use of light, which illuminates the woman’s face and the folds of her garment, creating a sense of volume and softness. The color palette is limited but rich, focusing on the creamy whites of her clothing contrasted with the subdued background. The artist’s delicate brushwork is evident in the fine details of her facial features and the intricate rendering of her clothing’s texture. This study offers insight into the serene and introspective qualities that are often associated with Vermeer’s subjects.
