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THE WORLD OF PERCEPTION
Vermeer, The Milk Maid

In Vermeer's painting, we
instantly identify the objects
depicted. To create the
impression of verisimilitude in
the viewer, the artist followed
the rules of perspective. He
painted the vessel into which
the woman is pouring liquid in
the shape of an ellipse, and
foreshortened the loaf of bread
and the top of the table.  In
fact, the actual shapes in
which he painted the woman
and all the other objects
depended on where they were
located in relation to him.