To what extent can differences in the appearance of the works of Vermeer and Pieter de Hooch be explained in terms of differences in the two artists’ biography, persona and market?

Perhaps the most useful starting point of this essay is to take a close look at the paintings themselves. Using examples of each artist’s work my first task is to establish exactly what differences and of course, similarities can be found between them. Through precise, description and analysis, I hope to be able to pinpoint the differences in character of paintings by Pieter de Hooch and of those by Vermeer. The kind of characteristics associated with style and the appearence of the finished works will be discussed, but also differences and similarities in working methods of the two men.
For thepurpose of analysis, I have found it very useful to site as my main examples, just one painting by each artist. The fairly recent series of exhibitions in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam entitled “Meeting of Masterpieces” uses this method. The fundamental idea behind the exhibitions (1991-93) lay in the choosing of two paintings of a similar subject, by two different artists - Jan Both/ C...