The Guitar Player

The stark simplicity of Vermeer’s depiction of a woman playing a guitar masks the extraordinary sophistication of his art. The asymmetrical composition is surprisingly modern, and works to draw us in to the scene.  Yet Vermeer intentionally blurred the strokes of his brush, rendering the scene elusive, as if seen through a dreamlike haze.

The painting is on loan from Kenwood House in London, which is closed until Autumn 2013 for urgent repairs and a major re-presentation of the Robert Adam interiors. During this time, 50 paintings from the Kenwood collection will be featured in an exhibition organised by the American Federation of Arts and English Heritage, which will travel to several venues in North America. Vermeer’s 'Guitar Player' will remain at the National Gallery until Kenwood House reopens.