Johannes Vermeer, Woman Holding a Balance, c. 1664, National Gallery of Art, Widener CollectionShe is oblivious to our presence. Her pensive stillness suggests she may be weighing something more profound than jewelry. In waiting for the balance to rest at equilibrium, she acknowledges the importance of judgment in assessing her own actions. Woman Holding a Balance captures that brief moment when a familiar action is lifted to the eternal.
