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Girl with a Flute

Johannes Vermeer, 1669

Girl with a Flute is a small painting of a young woman in a broad, striped hat, catalogued under Johannes Vermeer and dated 1669. At just 20 by 17.8 centimetres, it rewards a close, unhurried look. Its attribution has long been debated, which makes standing in front of it a lesson in how experts judge a painter's hand.

Where to see it

Our fact sheet records both the collection and the location of Girl with a Flute as Wikidata item Q214867, without a museum name attached. Before travelling, look up that Wikidata entry to confirm the holding institution, then check that museum's official website for current display status, opening hours and ticketing. Small works like this can be moved, rotated or lent, so confirm it is on view before you plan a trip around it.

What to look for in person

A painting you have to approach

At 20 by 17.8 centimetres, the picture is roughly the size of a small book. Across a gallery it can be easy to miss, so step in close. At reading distance you can follow how the face emerges from shadow and how light catches the edge of the cheek and lip. The intimate scale changes the experience: rather than an imposing statement, it feels like a private glimpse of a single figure turning toward the viewer.

The hat and the flute

The sitter's wide, conical hat with its bands of colour dominates the composition, throwing much of her face into soft shadow. Look at how the brim frames her eyes and how light falls unevenly across it. In her hand she holds the flute that gives the work its title, though it occupies only a small area of the panel. Notice how the painter balances the bold shape of the hat against the quieter details of hand and instrument.

Light as small points and soft blurs

Watch for small touches of bright paint where light strikes surfaces, such as the ornamental finial on the chair beside the sitter. Rather than sharp outlines, these highlights are often rendered as soft, slightly diffused spots. This way of describing light is closely associated with Vermeer's paintings, and it is one of the features specialists weigh when discussing who made this picture. Compare the crisp and the blurred passages as you look across the surface.

About the painting

Girl with a Flute belongs to a small group of head-and-shoulders images of young women linked to Johannes Vermeer, the Delft painter known for his careful study of light and his restricted, deliberate output. Rather than a formal portrait of a named person, it is generally understood as a character study: a figure in unusual or exotic dress, posed to show off costume, expression and the play of light. Our fact sheet gives the date as 1669 and the dimensions as 20 by 17.8 centimetres. The painting's attribution is the most discussed aspect of its history. For many years scholars have questioned whether Vermeer painted it himself, pointing to differences in handling compared with his securely accepted works, while others have noted shared motifs and lighting effects. As a visitor, you do not need to settle the question to enjoy the picture. In fact, the debate gives you something concrete to look for: the confidence of the brushwork in the face, the treatment of the hat, the way highlights are placed on the chair and the hand. Ask whether these passages feel equally resolved, and how they compare with other paintings by Vermeer you may have seen. Because the work is so small, plan time to return to it more than once during your visit. Lighting conditions in the gallery and your viewing angle can reveal different details on each approach. Before you go, check the holding museum's official website, using the collection identifier listed above, to confirm that the painting is on display.

Key facts

More by Johannes Vermeer

• The Concert
• The Girl with the Wine Glass
• The Lacemaker — Louvre Museum
• Girl Interrupted at her Music — The Frick Collection
• Woman with a Pearl Necklace — Gemäldegalerie Berlin
• Woman in Blue Reading a Letter — Rijksmuseum
• The Milkmaid — Rijksmuseum
• Girl with a Pearl Earring — Mauritshuis
• A Young Woman seated at a Virginal — National Gallery
• The Music Lesson
• A Young Woman Standing at a Virginal — National Gallery
• Diana and her Nymphs — Mauritshuis

Sources

• Wikidata Q3739200
• www.nga.gov