Why it matters
A lady writes a letter while her maid waits behind her with folded arms, looking out of the window, presumably ready to carry the letter to her lover. The two women seem emotionally and psychologically disconnected.
Did you know?
- It was painted in 1670–1671.
- It was stolen from Russborough House in 1974, and again in 1986 by a gang led by Martin Cahill; both times it was recovered.
- It is Vermeer's first experiment with a composition not focused on the centre.
Based on the Wikipedia article Lady Writing a Letter with her Maid (CC BY-SA 4.0).
