Woman Reading a Letter, c.1663/64 by Johannes Vermeer, van Delft
Canvas Print - 1068-VVD
Location: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, NetherlandsOriginal Size: 46.5 x 39 cm
Giclée Canvas Print | $48.54 USD
By using the red up or down arrows, you have the option to proportionally increase or decrease the printed area in inches as per your preference.
*Max printing size: 35.4 x 29.7 in
*Max framing size: Long side up to 28"
"Woman Reading a Letter" will be custom-printed for your order using the latest giclée printing technology. This technique ensures that the Canvas Print captures an exceptional level of detail, showcasing vibrant and vivid colors with remarkable clarity.
Our use of the finest quality, fine-textured canvas lends art reproductions a painting-like appearance. Combined with a satin-gloss coating, it delivers exceptional print outcomes, showcasing vivid colors, intricate details, deep blacks, and impeccable contrasts. The canvas structure is also highly compatible with canvas stretching frames, further enhancing its versatility.
To ensure proper stretching of the artwork on the stretcher-bar, we add additional blank borders around the printed area on all sides.
Our printing process utilizes cutting-edge technology and employs the Giclée printmaking method, ensuring exceptional quality. The colors undergo independent verification, guaranteeing a lifespan of over 100 years.
Please note that there are postal restrictions limiting the size of framed prints to a maximum of 28 inches along the longest side of the painting. If you desire a larger art print, we recommend utilizing the services of your local framing studio.
*It is important to mention that the framing option is unavailable for certain paintings, such as those with oval or round shapes.
If you select a frameless art print of "Woman Reading a Letter" by Vermeer, it will be prepared for shipment within 48 hours. However, if you prefer a framed artwork, the printing and framing process will typically require approximately 7-8 days before it is ready to be shipped.
We provide complimentary delivery for up to two unframed (rolled-up) art prints in a single order. Our standard delivery is free and typically takes 10-14 working days to arrive.
For faster shipping, we also offer express DHL shipping, which usually takes 2-4 working days. The cost of express shipping is determined by the weight and volume of the shipment, as well as the delivery destination.
Once you have added the paintings to your shopping cart, you can use the "Shipping estimates" tool to obtain information about available transport services and their respective prices.
All unframed art prints are delivered rolled up in secure postal tubes, ensuring their protection during transportation. Framed art prints, on the other hand, are shipped in cardboard packaging with additional corner protectors for added safety.
Painting Information
In Vermeer’s "Woman Reading a Letter," the quiet grace of a single figure draws us into an intimate world, one imbued with subtle tensions and muted emotions. This is a painting that meditates on solitude and silent communication, a work that invites us to observe - yet leaves much unsaid. A young woman stands alone, her eyes intently reading a letter that hangs delicately in her fingers. Behind her looms a map of Europe, hinting at distant places, as though the world beyond her quiet room might somehow seep into this private moment. The map isn’t just background - it’s a reminder of the broader world and perhaps a loved one separated by distance.
Vermeer’s composition is unhurried, contemplative. The woman’s figure is set off-center, and her gaze pulls our own to the letter she holds, while the empty chair beside her suggests an absent presence, someone significant who remains unseen. Vermeer doesn’t crowd the scene; rather, he uses the expanse of the pale wall and the open space in the room to let the viewer linger in her solitude. Each detail is purposefully understated, from the sturdy wooden table where papers lie scattered to the quiet angles of the chair.
The color palette reflects Vermeer’s mastery over muted yet resonant tones. His choice of a vibrant blue for her jacket - a deep, striking hue that anchors the composition - seems to glow against the softer, neutral surroundings. It’s a blue that feels almost tangible, emphasizing her presence without dominating the scene. The white wall behind her becomes more than a mere backdrop; it’s a surface alive with light, lending a sense of air and volume to the space. Vermeer’s colors are not merely aesthetic choices; they are emotional, conveying a calm yet profound mood that resonates with the scene’s reflective silence.
Vermeer’s technique is meticulous, yet it’s his skill in rendering light and texture that truly captivates. His brushwork is smooth, nearly invisible, allowing him to build layers of light and shadow that seem to breathe. Look closely, and the details reveal themselves - the softness of her clothing, the subtle gleam of the map, the quiet craftsmanship of the furniture. There’s a polished elegance to his work, an unspoken reverence for the everyday that transforms ordinary objects into almost sacred artifacts.
This scene is as much about the internal as the external. While Vermeer offers us a glimpse into this woman’s world, he leaves us with questions. Who wrote this letter? What news does it bring? The tension lies in this very ambiguity, a feeling of anticipation and quiet longing. Vermeer’s world is deeply reflective, inviting us not just to see, but to feel - to step into the emotions, the distance, and the silence of this timeless, personal moment.
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