Young Woman with a Water Pitcher

At the center of the painting stands a young woman, caught in a moment of quiet domestic activity. With her right hand, she opens a window, while her left hand steadies a water pitcher resting on a large platter. These vessels sit atop a table draped with a predominantly red, Asian-style carpet. Behind the table, a chair holds a piece of blue fabric.The woman gazes thoughtfully out the window. She wears a dark blue dress with a black and gold bodice and a white head covering. On the wall behind her hangs a large map, a familiar motif in Johannes Vermeer’s interiors.

Young Woman with a Water Pitcher belongs to a group of closely related works from the early to mid-1660s, during a period when Vermeer moved away from strict linear perspective and geometric structure, instead using light as the primary compositional force. The painting demonstrates Vermeer’s sensitivity to the interplay of light and color. 

Imagine starting your week with a calm Vermeer morning—this masterpiece is waiting for you in our 2026 Weekly Desk Calendar.

P.S. Famous for the Milkmaid and Girl with a Pearl Earring, Vermeer left us with only about 36 of his paintings. Discover some of the most important ones. Here's Johannes Vermeer in 10 paintings!