  
Johannes Vermeer, Woman Holding a Balance, c. 1664, National Gallery of Art, Widener Collection
Woman Holding a Balance embodies a spiritual principle that is often manifest in Vermeer's work: the need to lead a balanced life.
Though Vermeer's working methods remain a mystery, it is clear that he constructed this composition with extreme care.
Orthogonal lines to the vanishing point meet precisely at the woman's finger.The frame behind her reinforces this focus.

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