PER 6 (McGibbon-Young): Ch. 10 Interpretation

2/21/2011

Assignment: Write an interpretation of Jan Vermeer’s “Woman Holding a Balance” based on ideas found in research and student Quick Writes.

- Investigate the painting here:
http://www.essentialvermeer.com/catalogue/woman_holding_a_balance.html
- Read the critical assessments here:
http://www.essentialvermeer.com/cat_about/balance.html
- Read all Quick Writes
- Write a more formal interpretation of the work: Based on scholarly opinion and the quick writes of others, how would you interpret this work?
- Create a dialog: Respond to at least two other posts

Due: Monday, February 28
10 points (5 for interpretation, 5 for responses)

30 Comments

Eliza

2/21/2011 05:17:54 am

When I look at this painting, I immediately think of the Virgin Mary, because of the white veil and blue cloak the woman is wearing. The idea that she may be Mary is reinforced by the painting behind her, which looks like the Second Coming. She appears to be pregnant...with Christ, maybe? The light from the window is shining on her, like divine light (the holy spirit, I think we said when we were talking about cathedrals?). I'm not sure why she's holding an empty balance....maybe she's judging the balance between human sin and Christ, and how that will change when Christ dies? She hasn't yet given birth to Christ, which makes the Second Coming painting very very eerie. I can't tell what the jewelry symbolizes. If it were a jewelry box full of gold, frankincense, and myrhh, that would fit the religious theme. But it's full of pearls....was Mary ever referred to as the Pearl of God or anything? Or does it just symbolize how precious she is to Christianity?

Marissa

2/21/2011 11:29:57 am

This painting is very quite, and thought provoking. It shows a pregnant looking woman holding a balancing beam. Behind her, a portrait of what appears to be christ illuminated draws the eye. The woman is not elegantly dressed with jewels and fancy clothing, but jewels lie sprawled on the table. What appears to be a blue velvety coat covers half the table. Directly in front of the woman is a portrait, that only she can see, it is right next to the only light source in the room. The window which beams light onto the woman's face. She is very pale. Which makes me think she never gets out of that room. Perhaps her occupation has to do with jewels. She may balance them, or design them. What is most striking about this woman is her serenity. She looks down at the balance in a very fond way. She holds it delicately, above a table, making sure nothing will drop. What really caches my eye is her swollen belly. She looks very pregnant and still so peaceful.

Hannah Wiepke

2/25/2011 01:23:11 am

Interpretation:
Based on the quick writes and scholarly debate I believe that this a young middle class woman who has balanced religion and prosperity in her life. I think that the piece is trying to convey that even if one is rich, it does not mean they should turn their back on religion. The scale is equally balanced which provides more legitimacy to my theory. The coat she wears is one of a typical Dutch middle-class woman in the 17th century.As for her stomach, it might simply be the folds of the cloth that give her the look of an expecting mother. The Last Judgment scene is promptly displayed to reinforce the message of the work. The Last Judgment scene is all about those who are worthy of heaven or hell. The woman appears pious and content with herself, so its only fair to say her life is both equal in religion and prosperity.

Hayley Nestor

2/25/2011 12:29:12 pm

Interpretation:
The person in this painting seems to be a middle class woman balancing something in her right hand. My thoughts are that she is balancing her interest with her religion. She is looking down at a balancing device, however, it is empty. It might also mean that she has some type of inner conflict. She is wearing a Dutch outfit, which includes an elegant jacket that was usually worn by middle or upper class women. Also the yellow skirt has a lot of deep shadowing to make it look like a unique garment. The skirt also makes her look pregnant which probably means fertility. This peice seems religious because of the painting of the Last Judgment right behind her. The whole scene is kind of calm and harmonious.

Lexi Mendes

2/27/2011 06:42:08 am

Interpretation:

This is a painting of a young woman who is "weighing" her options of the rest of her life, significant by the balance in her hand. I think that she is a woman who wants to live lavishly and extravagantly, but is also conflicted with living a life of moderation. She seems to be contemplating her riches, as seen in her fur-lined coat and jewelry, and her religion, shown in the painting of Jesus' second coming behind her. The blue cloth on the table may be symbolic of the Virgin Mary, and purity. However, I do not think that this woman is the Virgin Mary, but instead a pregnant woman who is trying to decide how to live the rest of her life. She could either live simply and perhaps be rewarded in the afterlife as told in the Bible, or she could choose the life of comfort and wealth. The life shining in from the window could be symbolic of Christ or the Holy Spirit. Her eyes are closed which shows her intense thought. Perhaps her eyes are closed because she feels God's presence on her.

The balance is used to make sure that her real jewelry wasn't stolen and replaced with fake jewelry. But, there isn't anything on the weights, so maybe she is considering whether it is important for her to be greedy over jewelry, as she is apparently already wealthy. Maybe she is thinking about how someone else may need the jewelry more than she does.

Hannah Wiepke

2/27/2011 06:50:48 am

@ Lexi
I really like your interpretation of the blue cloth, its highly possible and feasible that it represents the Virgin because it's beautiful and pure. I also like your idea about why the woman's eyes are closed/turned downward, I didn't even notice!

Tessa ter Horst

2/27/2011 11:23:23 am

After going through everything, I think that this is a portrait of a women trying to balance her wants and desires and following Christ and religion. The gold and jewelry on the table shows her want for such lavishness while the Last Judgement painting contrasts the valuables by warning her to not engage in such things and follow Christ's ways. I think that the beam of light coming from the window represents God/the Holy Spirit guiding her through the balancing act of her life and helping her to make the right choices.

Caroline Werk

2/27/2011 12:33:33 pm

Interpretation:

This painting shows a woman who looks very serene and calm. She's holding a balance and I think that represents the balance, or attempt of balance, of two different aspects of her life. The scene/atmosphere she is in, attributes to the conclusion that she is balancing the temptation of riches and Christ. In order to achieve religiousness and piety, she must live modestly. The woman appears calm and I think that allows the audience to come to the conclusion that she already has achieved that balane in her life. Also, I think she is really pregnant. In some of the other paintings we have seen, the woman is pregant to show her fertility/ideal woman, but the overall theme of this painting does not coincide with idealized women, making this one seem like a real pregnancy.

Lyndsey Shafiei

2/27/2011 12:43:07 pm

This painting describes a middle class women who seems to be contemplating something deeper than just the weights of coins and jewelry. The extreme paleness of the women leads me to believe that she idealized and not a specific person. She could possibly be Mary pregnant with Christ, since she is placed infront of a religious Last Judgement scene and the cloth from her skirt falls as if her she was pregnant. Also, a delicate, holy light glows down from the window onto the women's face making her seem angelic. The simple, secular setting and nonreligious actions that are taking place is very contradicting to the indications of a religious work I just described. Jewels are spread across the table and the women holds a balance possibly weighing them. Her facial expressions are calm yet curious in her work. The small religious symbols and common daily setting could be a reference to a balance in religion and everyday human life. The balance is in the center of the painting, which is shows the artist's concern with balance. This work is very introspective.

Eliza

2/27/2011 01:14:26 pm

I posted my quick write here earlier, and my actual analysis in another period's discussion on Wednesday....sorry for my mistakes!
Here's my actual interpretation:

I think this painting is a religious work with a moral meaning.
The Second Coming painting in the background is a reminder of judgement that will come after one dies. This idea of judgement is repeated in the balance the woman is holding. She looks very calm and self-assured. The mirror facing her is a symbol of self-knowledge and truth.
I believe that the woman is confident that she hasn't sinned too much to go to heaven, explaining her calm expression and the mirror facing her. She's more interested in an empty balance than she is in the gold and jewels on the table, an example of her lack of greed and emphasizing her moral interests (balance and fairness).
I think the message of this painting is that, as a Christian, if you act morally and are calm and confident in your Christianity, you will go to heaven after your judgement.

and responses...
@Lexi:
I really like the way you interpreted this. I agree that the sense of inner conflict comes across, especially in the empty balance and the contrast between morality (the religious painting behind her) and luxury (the jewels). It's interesting that the painting as a whole seems calm and harmonious, but the woman is actually conflicted.
@Lyndsey: I definitely agree with the Virgin Mary reference, though I think it's just a reminder of the religion that rules this woman's life rather than a literal representation of Mary.

Marissa Ramirez

2/28/2011 05:41:49 am

My quickwrite is above. Sorry! I thought this is where we were supposed to post them.

Interpretation:
In this portrait, a well dressed woman stands in the center of a quite room. The atmosphere is serene, and the viewer almost feels as if they are interrupting an intimate moment. The woman's thoughts are clearly focused on the balancing beam she dangles carefully in her right hand. Her left hand is placed on a table decorated with lavish jewels and fabrics. This table is a major contradiction to the Last Judgement painting behind the woman's head on the wall.
This contradiction, though, is quite helpful in understanding the meaning behind the woman and the balance. The light that seeps in through the window directly onto the woman's face implies this is an enlightening moment for her. She is clearly finding the importance of religion over her money and wealth, shown by her holding of the balance as well as the bright light that shines onto the portrait on the wall and the woman, which her jewels and worldly possessions are cast aside into the shadows.

Hannah Wiepke

2/28/2011 08:00:49 am

@Tessa
I like you interpretation of the light coming through the window. I guessed that the light symbolized the presence of God, but its interesting to think the light is guiding her. Now, when I look at the painting, I see that the light is shining directly on her and most importantly her hands. This light shining on her could most definitely be God helping her determine her balance of religion and prosperity in her life. Do you think that this was the artist's intention?

Camille Mellott

2/28/2011 08:14:30 am

interpretation:
The portrait shows a very calm and relaxed high-class woman. You can tell her wealth by her fur lined coat and the jewelry on the extravagant table. The balance that she is holding may be empty, but it symbolizes the conflict with keeping a balance between faith (religion) and wealth. The portrait shows a mirror on the wall, which often implies self-knowledge and truth, but the woman in the portrait does not look into it. She is more concentrated on the balance of her money. Also, she has her back turned to the painting on the wall (the last judgment), possibly showing she has turned away from religion. Knowing that Christ judges you based on your good traits and not based on your wealth, is why the scales are empty. Normally light is a representation of the presence of God and dark signifies bad or corrupt. The jewelry in the portrait is cast in a shadow and darkened. This portrait is trying to show that people overlook God because they are to consumed with the luxuries of the world, but these luxuries cannot be taken with you into heaven.

Erin McGibbon

2/28/2011 11:05:37 am

"The Woman Holding a Balance" is symbolic in many ways. There is a Last Judgment picture hanging on the wall behind her and many jewels are on the table in front of her. The balance that the woman is holding could be a representation of her inner conflict that deals with trying to resist materialistic temptations and having good morals. I believe that moral judgment is a central theme to this painting. The light illuminating the woman's face could possibly represent the light of God. This specific use of light and shadow suggests that the viewer is witnessing a specific moment of realization. The mirror in front of the woman is a symbol of self-knowledge and truth. The woman's face is calm yet she appears to be in deep thought. I think the woman appears this way to show that she is waiting for the help of God to guide her. She is most likely contemplating what is more important to her: worldly riches and materialistic items or her religion and moral well-being.

Erin McGibbon

2/28/2011 11:19:45 am

@Camille Mellott
It was interesting to see how you interpreted the significance of the Last Judgment painting. I never looked at it and thought that meant she was turning away from religion, until you pointed that out. I agree with how you could see that!

@Hannah Wiepke
I think you brought up many good points in your interpretation. I never noticed that the balance had the same weight on each side. You mentioned that this could mean she all ready has balance in her life. I think this could also mean that the decision she is making is very hard because she seems to be equally attracted to each lifestyle (religious vs. materialistic) and she is being forced to choose one.

Jack Murray

2/28/2011 11:38:07 am

I think this painting is a comment on the trials and tribulations in the hearts of men of the day. The worldly wealth is represented by the pile of gold and jewelry on the table, and the warning of spiritual dessication is called to mind in the Last Judgment on the wall. Vermeer is trying to show the challenge in harmonizing wealth and faith. I think the woman is a balanced figure: she is in harmony with both worldly possessions and spirituality. The woman's quiet serenity and calm are the traits that Vermeer idolizes as idyllic and perfect.

Genevieve Vernon

2/28/2011 11:55:41 am

Interpretation:

This painting is very captivating in the serenity that it projects and also the symbolism. The woman is dressed in a coat that was typical for middle to upper class Dutch women to wear, this suggests that she does have wealth. A suggestion of wealth is also given by all the jewelry on the table in front of the woman, although it is uncertain if this wealth is hers or not. She holds two scales, however, these scales are empty, which could show that she is not concerned with weighing the jewelry but instead with balancing out something intrinsic, especially with the careful and contemplative way she holds the scale. The painting of The Last Judgment behind her definitely makes religion a significant part of symbolism. Often the Last Judgment is portrayed by souls being weighed on a balancing scale that determines their fate of Heaven or Hell. The subject of the painting behind the woman brings up the idea of balancing life, good and evil, and so it would be logical to conclude that the scales the woman is holding are representative of the same concept. Also, the way the light shines on her could be symbolic of God and adds to the religious theme of this painting. The light shows and emphasizes the expression on her face, which is calm and serene, but also serious and contemplative, as if she knows that balancing out the worldly and the spiritual is very important and she is taking care to do so.

Genevieve Vernon

2/28/2011 12:04:20 pm

@Marissa:
I like how you point out that it feels as if the viewer is interrupting an intimate moment, I had that feeling but hadn't quite put it into words! I also like how you say that the table of jewelry is cast into the shadows and a contradiction to the Last Judgment painting, good point.

@Eliza:
I agree that the emptiness of the scales show that she is more concerned with the morals of balance and fairness than with gold and jewels. I think it's interesting that you bring up how the woman looks confident, I hadn't thought of it that way before but she does seem to have a quiet confidence.

Jess Young

2/28/2011 12:48:22 pm

After thinking more about this piece i have come to conclude much more about "Woman Holding a Balance". Thinking in terms of religion i think the light, which is clearly illuminating the woman's face, represents Gods presence in the room ,life, and time period. I think the way her face is in the light shows her trust in religion and God. I think that by her facial expression and the way she is gazing at the scale shows her inner conflict between religion as well as wealth. Her face shows how she is relying on God to help her solve her problems. Although she is gazing at the scale i also see a sense of confidence like she knows deep down the outcome of the dilemma. After saying that the Woman in the painting seems calm but at the same time taking what she is doing very seriously. This says a lot about her personality as well as what she is trying to achieve. The woman is obviously very wealthy and i think she is pregnant. She is dressed modestly and in dark colors which tends to different attention back to her hand.

Jess Young

2/28/2011 12:56:08 pm

@Marissa
I find your interpretation very interesting as well as similar to mine in some aspects. I agree with your opinion about how you think the woman is displayed with the strong religion importance in her life. I also think that the light represents God. It was interesting to hear your ideas about how you felt as the viewer we were interrupting the woman. I agree with that statement however before reading that the thought hadn’t come up for me. However after reading your interpretation I see the painting in new and different ways.

Jess Young

2/28/2011 01:00:49 pm

@ Erin McGibbon
I really enjoyed reading your interpretation and felt you did a great job analyzing the piece. I found your point about the woman’s inner conflict very intriguing as well as somewhat different to mine. I personally more felt she was leaning towards religion rather then morals. At the same time I can see how the two intertwine together. I also found it interesting how you talked about the mirror and what it represented. Reading your interpretation helped me understand the piece more and I enjoyed reading a different perspective about the painting.

Lyndsey Shafiei

3/1/2011 10:13:55 am

@Genevieve Vernon
That is a really cool way to look at. I thought that the scale was meant to connote the peace of balancing religion and day-to-day practices. I never thought the balance could be representing the balance of good and evil.

Hayley Nestor

3/3/2011 07:02:45 am

@Tessa
I really liked your analysis, it was really interesting that you said the beam of light was not just God, but it was also guiding her. That makes sense because when you look at the painting it not only focuses on her face but kind of all of her.

Hayley Nestor

3/3/2011 07:12:09 am

@Lyndsey Shafiei
Your interpretation was very interesting. I like how you note that the artist made it so she is not a specific person. The way you described everything in your interpretation was really intriguing.

Caroline Werk

3/4/2011 01:30:50 am

@Jess Young
I really like your interpretation of the light, representing God. You felt that her face showed her trust in God, where most people thought it showed her calm and "balanced" in her life, and I thought that was a really insightful interpretation.

@Camille Mellot
I like your interpretation of the art work, especially your last line. I think it was really good how you said people get too caught up in the luxuries of life, but that isn't what's most important because those luxuries cannot be taken with you into heaven. This is a really good reason to put God before the luxuries on Earth.

Camille Mellott

3/4/2011 05:03:29 am

@ Lexi

I liked your interpretation of this art work. I had not considered that possibly the woman was thinking about how someone else may need the jewelry more than she. I totally agree that the light shining down was the presence of God and that she was feeling his presence.

@ Genevieve

What a great interpretation that the balance may represent fate between heaven and hell. I can totally agree with the religious significance in this painting and like the way you considered that the woman was taking special care to balance her life.

Lexi Mendes

3/4/2011 05:51:52 am

@ Hayley Nestor,

I really like your interpretation of the balance. She very well could be balancing her religion, and maybe the reason why it is empty is because she lacks religion in her life. Perhaps this could tie into her contemplation over a lack of her religion, which is then reinforced by the Last Judgement painting in the background...

@ Jack Murray

It's interesting to consider this painting in relation to everyone, and not just this one woman. The multiple aspects of the painting could symbolize the conflicts that people face every day. I didn't even think that this was a statement by Vermeer to show the internal conflict that most people harbor, but now I definitely think so.

Tessa ter Horst

3/4/2011 08:12:11 am

@Hannah
To respond to your response to mine, i think it could be what the artist intended because, like you pointed out, the light is not just on her, but on her hands

Tessa ter Horst

3/4/2011 08:15:57 am

@Caroline Werk
I like how you said that the calmness could show that she has already achieved the balance. It makes sense. It could be that she just reached that balance and now she is relieved to have reached it.

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PER 6 (McGibbon-Young): Ch. 10 Interpretation

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