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The Geographer, like many of Johannes Vermeer's works, relies on natural light to illuminate the scene, in this case pouring through the window to the subject's left. The painting shows the Geographer surrounded by the tools of his trade, maps, a globe, books. He is holding a drawing tool while he leans over a map. But his attention is only partly focused on his work. What is he thinking of? Perhaps it is of faraway places that European explorers were voyaging to, partly aided by the maps he is working on.

The Geographer is thought to have been executed in 1669, at the height of the Dutch Golden Age. It lasted from 1588, when the Dutch Republic was established, to 1672 and the occurrence of the Rampjaar when the Republic's territory was nearly overrun by French troops followed by a severe economic downturn.

The Dutch Golden Age featured voyages of exploration and colonization by Dutch mariners. The influence of the Dutch Republic was felt around the world, in North America, South Africa, and East Asia. Trade through the auspices of the Dutch East India Company enriched the Dutch Republic, further motivated by the Protestant work ethic and free market capitalism. No doubt those activities were an inspiration for The Geographer.

The Dutch Golden Age also saw a flowering of art and architecture of which Vermeer was a great beneficiary. Vermeer is thought to have executed about 50 paintings, of which about 36 survive to this day, in his short life of 43 years. By the time he created The Geographer, Vermeer had already been painting for many years. He had reached a maturity in his skill of executing his subjects and infusing them with meaning that could be discerned by the observer. But like most great works of art, the meaning of The Geographer is open to interpretation.

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