Woman Holding a Balance painting by Johannes Vermeer Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook Twitter URL https://www.britannica.com/art/Woman-Holding-a-Balance Share Share Share to social media Facebook Twitter URL https://www.britannica.com/art/Woman-Holding-a-Balance Written by Ann Kay Ann Kay is a writer and editor with a degree in the history of art and literature at Kent University and a postgraduate qualification in graphic design from London University. Ann Kay Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Jun 7, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents Woman Holding a Balance, oil painting by Johannes Vermeer from about 1664. It depicts a woman who some scholars have suggested may be pregnant and thus hints at a resemblance to the Virgin Mary. She stands serenely before a table that bears a jewelry box draped with strands of gold and pearls while she waits for her small handheld balance to come to rest. The work uses symbolism to tell a lofty story through an ordinary scene. This painting employs a carefully planned composition to explore one of Vermeer’s major preoccupations—i.e., finding life’s underlying balance. Held lightly between the woman’s ...(100 of 188 words)

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