Johannes Vermeer was a Dutch painter known for his use of light, color, and composition to create intimate and realistic scenes of domestic life. He was born in 1632 in Delft, Netherlands, and lived most of his life in the same city. He is best known for his paintings such as Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Milkmaid, and View of Delft. Vermeer's work was largely forgotten after his death and was rediscovered in the 19th century. His use of light and composition had a significant influence on the development of Dutch Golden Age painting.
