The narrative

The Astronomer
(De astronoom)

1668
oil on canvas
19 3/8 x 17 3/4 in. (50 x 45 cm.)
Musée du Louvre, Paris

The painting in the painting (This one is Vermeer's late Lady Writing a Letter with her Maid, this time, represented much larger than in the Astronomer )


This painting on the wall represents the Moses in the bull rushes. Moses was described as 'learn in all the wisdom of Egypt' He was also the patron saint of a type of science, which did not seek knowledge through observation and experiment like modern science, but in the return to old sources of wisdom in the ancient civilizations.

Did the astronomer still worship the old wisdom? Is that why he put this painting on the wall? Curiously, the painting is almost unnoticeable in the shadow of the room? Does that mean that the astronomer wants to free himself from the old wisdom?

The hand touching the globe becomes the centre of the painting, as well as where the light concentrates. The globe represents complex form of constellation with an artistic rendering. The hand gesture seems confusing, it is elevated from the globe, where only the head of middle finger is touching the globe.

Is he ready to explore the universe, or is he still contemplating the contradiction? The contradiction between the old wisdom and modern science? Can the process of contemplation take him where he wants to be?




A small part of the window is colored with decorative stem, small portion of light enters the room quietly. The incoming light mysteriously concentrates on the contemplative scholar and the celestial globe.

the room seems very much closed and isolated, the lighting is concentrated but soft. Is the astronomer satisfied with the condition? is he happy contained in a box like this? Does this really help him to find a solution?


The whole painting seems so harmonious, but why am I feeling a temptation? especially the astronomy's hand, it is reaching for something more than just sitting in a room and contemplating.
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Here are just some scraps and pieces I remembered from the movie Synecdoche NewYork.

In the movie, Hazel is deciding to buy a house on fire, she is so optimistic and determinate about buying a house as she is 36 already.
'i like it, I do. I'm just really concerning about dying in the fire'
and the woman said
'it's a big decision, how one prefers to die...'
Yes, she dies in fire eventually.
This is interesting that how every decision we make is effecting the 'end', like the end is built into the beginning.....

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The space is emotionally charged and theatrical......