Vermeer's (1632-1675) reputation was associated with the growth of the art market in Europe in the 17th century. Although he achieved some recognition in his lifetime, interest in his work increased again well after his death in the twentieth century.
Art Market in the 17th Century Europe
Vermeer's career was determined by the demands of the art market where the competition constantly grew. This situation was tied up with the economic stability in the seventeenth-century Netherlands when Vermeer was active. The Netherlandish wealthy middle-class burghers became intersted in collecting art and therefore patronage shifted from traditional civic or ecclesiastical commissions to predominantly private ones.
Dutch Genre Paintings and Specialization
Private commissions forced artists to conform to changes in contemporary fashion and taste. Although, the history painting became an official genre, in the 17th-century Netherlands, the preference was given to the genre painting that gradually replaced traditional history painting with classical themes.
Vermeer worked according to the current market trends with their increasing demands and contemporary tastes. As many other Netherlandish artists of this period, he specialized in one specific genre, domestic scenes. This way, he secured the patronage and financial support of art collectors such as Pieter van Rijven for whom he worked on a regualr basis.
Commercial Success
His work for patrons like van Ruijven earned him considerable reputation within his native city of Delft. In fact, he became a master of the painter's guild in Delft in 1653.
Further shifts in Vermeer's reputation were very much influenced by art historical writing and by the development of the art market which saw the emergence of growing circles of art collectors, art dealers and art critics.
The fact that compared to other Dutch artists he produced very few works for a very limited circle of patrons meant that his name was not included within contemporary written sources on Dutch art.
Vermeer's fame grew in the following centuries due to the popularity of the Dutch genre painting as a whole. This trend was at its peak by the mid 18th century when Dutch genre painting was much in demand and dealing in this type of painting became very lucrative for art dealers. In terms of contemporary taste, Vermeer's work enjoyed renewed interest but this was due to the nature of his work, not his identity or personal renown.
Personal Identity and Fame
However, changing fashions and attitudes within the art world prompted art dealers to turn the artist's obscurity into a marketing strategy. In the late 18th century the unfamiliarity and rarity of the artist was becoming a highly valued criterion for buying art. Within these developments, Vermeer's identity began to be known first in the Netherlands and by the early 19th century he began to be considered an accomplished European artist within the growing international art market.
Politics and Misinterpretation of Theophile Thore
Significant contribution to Vermeer's reputation was made by art historical writing and by the personality of the writer. The French art critic Theophile Thore was determined to give Vermeer acknowledgement and prestige. Thore's interpretation of Vermeer was, however, influenced by his political conviction. Vermeer's principal subject-matter of ordinary people appealed to Thore who interpreted this as a reflection of the liberal Dutch society as opposed to his native France governed by the Royalty and the Church.
Vermeer's art exemplified for him the ideas of democratic society and scientific progress with emphasis on an ordinary human being. This was Thore's subjective interpretation, but it brought certain elements of Vermeer's art to the fore and Thore's writing helped establish Vermeer's reputation which continue to grow into the 20th century.
Sources:
- The Changing Status of the Artist, Emma Barker, Nick Webb, Kim Woods, Yale University Press, 1999
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