オランダのデルフトに生まれ、一生のほとんどをこの町で過ごしました。窓から入るやわらかい光の中で、手紙を読んだり牛乳を注いだりする人の、静かな一瞬を描きました。高価な青い顔料ウルトラマリンを使ったことでも知られます。現存する絵は35点ほどしかなく、43歳で借金を残して亡くなりました。死後は長く忘れられ、19世紀に再発見されました。
Vermeer was born in Delft, the Netherlands, and spent almost his whole life there. He painted quiet moments, like someone reading a letter or pouring milk, in soft light from a window. He is also known for using ultramarine, a very expensive blue. Only about 35 of his paintings survive. He died at 43, leaving debts. After his death he was forgotten for a long time, until he was rediscovered in the 19th century.
