Embodiment of Human Movements in Paintings

—The Gesture by the Maid in the Milkmaid Painted by Vermeer about 350 Years ago—

Abstract

Paintings convey static information in two-dimensional form. Human beings have tried to express three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional plane using techniques such as perspective. Attempts have also been made to express changes over time in humans and nature on a static plane. This procedure also requires some techniques for embodiment of the movements in a static canvas.
In this study, we examined the embodied movement in the famous painting “The Milkmaid” by Vermeer. The painting was reconstructed in the three-dimensional space, and the movement embodied in the painting (i.e., the milk flowing from the jug) was analyzed.
The results of analysis showed that the jug held by the maid must be moving slightly for the milk be to flowing from the jug. This implies that a slight arm movement was embodied by Vermeer in the maid's gesture in the painting, which is contrary to past interpretation of the painting.