AllMovie

The Dutch painter Jan Vermeer attained recognition for the innovative use of light in his tableaux. This art-themed documentary uses numerous works by that master painter to investigate the basic question of "what makes a Vermeer a Vermeer?," or more specifically, which compositional elements recurred throughout his work? And what were the artist's inherent "secrets"? To answer these queries, the program begins with an up-close examination of the paintings, but then moves beyond the surface levels of the canvasses via such techniques as computer technology, infrared light and x-rays. It also provides in-depth discussions of Vermeer's uses of color, scale and composition and his choice of subjects per se.