Johannes Vermeer is one of the most highly regarded Dutch artists of all time. His works have been a source of inspiration and fascination for centuries, but much of his life remains a mystery.

Jan Vermeer was born October 31, 1632, in Delft, Netherlands. Surprisingly little is known about Vermeer’s decision to become a painter. He registered as a master painter in the Delft Guild of Saint Luke on December 29, 1653, but the identity of his master(s), the nature of his training, and the period of his apprenticeship remain a mystery.

Many of Vermeer's masterworks focus on domestic scenes, including "The Milkmaid". This depiction of a woman in the midst of her work showcases two of his trademarks: his realistic renderings of figures and objects, and his fascination with light. Many of his works have a luminous quality, including the portrait "Girl with a Pearl Earring".

Vermeer worked slowly and with great care, and frequently used very expensive pigments. He is particularly renowned for his masterly treatment and use of light in his work. Vermeer was a master of incorporating shadow and light to his works. He was able to achieve this style by using the camera obscura. This is a kind of tool that is made of a box, which came with a hole and equipped with a lens inside it. Moreover, the interior portion of the box was painted in white, and the mirrors and lenses inside it made it possible for images outside it to receive their reflection. As a result, the reflection's shadows and light are intensified, and this gave the artist a better concept of the depth of these elements on the surface of the subject.

Jan Vermeer was recognized during his lifetime in Delft and The Hague, but his modest celebrity gave way to obscurity after his death. Vermeer produced a total of fewer than 50 paintings, of which 34 have survived