Tim's Vermeer

Rating = A-

There are two stories going on in this documentary film: (1) an experiment to show what sort of optical devices Vermeer might have used to do his paintings; (2) Tim's obsession with painting a very Vermeer like painting even though he is an inventor rather than a painter. According to the movie, prior studies suggesting that Vermeer might have used optical devices in his painting process are controversial as some art historians feel that the suggestion that Vermeer used optical devices diminishes her artistic genius. Tim and the people who made the movie (Penn and Teller) make it clear that they have even more respect for Vermeer because from their believe that he combined art with technology.

[2014-02-15, Whitsell Theater, Portland Art Museum, Portland, OR]