“The Lacemaker (after Vermeer)” is an artwork by Salvador Dali created in the period between 1954 and 1955. Despite Dali’s strong association with Surrealism, this piece presents a significant departure, as it is aligned with the Realism movement. The artwork’s dimensions are modest, measuring approximately 23.5 by 19.7 centimeters. It is a portrait, seeking to pay homage to Johannes Vermeer’s original work by the same name.
The artwork is a meticulous recreation of Vermeer’s celebrated 17th-century painting “The Lacemaker.” It features a young woman absorbed in the task of lacemaking, her figure occupying the majority of the composition. Dali’s rendition captures the serene concentration evident in the original, with the subject bent over her lace pillow, her hands delicately engaged in the intricate craft.
The colors employed are warm and earthy, evoking the tonalities of the Dutch Golden Age painting. Attention to detail is evident in the depiction of the woman’s attire and the implements of her craft. The light source, implied to come from the left of the canvas, casts the woman’s face and upper body in a soft glow, enhancing the three-dimensionality and quiet intensity of her endeavor. The signed initials of Dali discernible in the upper right corner certify the artwork as his interpretation, while the faithful reproduction of the scene underscores Dali’s skillful handling of forms and mastery over different styles beyond his staple surrealistic oeuvre. The curious addition of flowing forms on the cushion, however, provides a hint of Dali’s penchant for the surreal, subtly infusing his own eccentricity into this homage.
