Sadly this superb exploration of Vermeer’s extant works is completely lacking in additional DVD features which would make Vermeer all the more enjoyable. Bereft of even a standard navigational menu, all viewers are provided with is a play button. After viewing the disc I double-checked, hoping for perhaps, some full-screen stills of the paintings explored within the film – dreaming of transforming my television into an at-home art gallery if you will. I was disappointed to find that indeed, there are no additional features included.
So, what makes a Vermeer a Vermeer? That’s a question that even the minds of those who’ve been studying his work for years fail to answer succinctly. After examining a wealth of technical points, there is still a feeling, a mood, something difficult to pin down, which continues to draw viewers into each painting – wrapping them within the folds of the world Vermeer has created for us to catch a glimpse of. Vermeer: Master of Light takes anyone longing for a deeper understanding of his work “behind-the-canvas’ as it were, in this fascinating art film.
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