Jan Vermeer’s paintings have fascinated art enthusiasts for centuries. Known for his enigmatic style, his oeuvre has been challenging for experts to understand and has sparked discussions globally. The discovery of a greatly significant feature in his painting, “Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window”, adds another layer to the desperate attempts of scholars to uncover the enduring secrets of Vermeer.
Vermeer’s painting went through various stages of restoration until the discovery of Cupid, which was revealed in a 350-year-old painting that had adorned the Dresden Gemäldegalerie. The radical change of the painting sparked a sensation in the art world and offers an exciting glimpse of Vermeer’s innovative artistic approach. The film explores the many years of study and the state-of-the-art imaging techniques used to reveal the hidden figure.This long-awaited discovery delivered much-needed answers to many questions surrounding Vermeer’s techniques, and some people thought all mysteries of his art were answered. However, it revealed the speculative, subjective nature of examining historical art, and who gets to decide what’s significant. The documentary film ponders the prerogative of interpretation in art and helps uncover the enduring secrets of Vermeer.
