Behold The Wine Glass, painted in 1660 and now displayed in Berlin.
I dug into some analysis of this work, and learned that Vermeer was inspired by De Hooch's The Visit when composing his painting. In addition, reminiscent of Delft church interiors of the 1650s, linear perspective helps to suggest a flow of light and space, imbuing an element of fluidity mirroring that of the wine disappearing down the woman's throat.
The man gazes at her, watching.
There is anticipation, trust, and an irrevocable sense of balance in this moment. What's most intriguing to me is that the wine in her glass is gone, yet Vermeer captures a hanging moment. She has just finished the last drop of wine, yet her hand is still poised at the bottom of her glass, waiting. Waiting.
