"History and fiction merge seamlessly in Tracy Chevalier's luminous novel about artistic vision and sensual awakening. Through the eyes of sixteen-year-old Griet, the world of 1660s Holland comes dazzlingly alive in this richly imaginative portrait of the young woman who inspired one of Vermeer's most celebrated paintings." (description from the book cover)
Overall rating: **** (four stars)
Strengths:
- Historical Setting. Chevalier paints a fascinating picture of life in Holland in the 1660s. Not only does the novel explore the class differences in Delft, but also the religious differences. We also get to learn about the camera obscura and its role in Vermeer's painting.
- Characterization of Vermeer. Though the novel is about one of his paintings, we do not see Vermeer as often as we might. He says little, but Griet observes him carefully. The other characters, however, discuss him constantly. This character creation not only serves to keep Vermeer elusive, it also imbues his moments of presence in the story with that much more meaning.
- Description of Painting. One of the most beautiful aspects of this novel is the exploration of Vermeer's way of seeing the world and his method of paining. Chevalier also provides wonderful details of some of the technical aspects of painting, such as preparing the paint itself.
- Motivation. Some of the ancillary characters are more two-dimensional than they might need to be. Van Ruijven is a fairly stereotypical lecherous rich man, and Vermeer's daughter Cornelia is spite personified. While they elegantly serve their purpose, they could be more fleshed out.
- Dialogue. For a first person narrator, Griet is fairly silent. She thinks a great deal and listens to other characters, but she says little herself. For people who need dialogue to understand a character, this may be a problem. The novel is highly internal, rather than based on action, and this could be a problem for some people.
