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Symmetry In the Woman with a Lute (left) Vermeer used the right-hand and lower border of the map hanging on the back wall to establish the vertical and horizontal axes of the composition. Note that they divide the painting exactly in halves. Precisely the same compositional device is applied in the Woman holding a Balance (right). It seems highly unlikely that this could have happened by chance. Vermeer desired to create a profound sense of stability in his works. He did so, not only through static poses of his models and restrained choice of subject matter but, but through the accomplished use of symmetry as well. |
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