Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window - Vermeer

Seen in profile, she is unaware that her emotional response is faintly reflected in the window panes before her.

This painting has an immediacy that stems from Vermeer's growing interest in naturalistic, even illusionistic effects. It suggests not only the translucent and reflective qualities of the glass, but also the brightness of the woman's lemon-yellow sleeves, and the coat of the wool rug, which he accentuates with colored reflections. The most remarkable illusionist element, however, is the large yellowish-green curtain hanging from a rod that runs across the painting. Partly because the light falls on its front surface, the curtain seems to belong to the viewer's space, as if it had been pulled aside to reveal this intimate moment in the young woman's life.