Kitty Hawk

Those were interesting comments on Vermeer's painting. I'm looking through a book of Vermeer's paintings, which includes A Lady Weighing Gold (Pearls). One important detail I don't think you mentioned is that the woman is pregnant. The author of the book I have (The World of Vermeer, Hans Koningsberger) interprets this to mean the painting is a celebration of "life everlasting." Not saying I agree with that, but the woman's pregnancy must have some importance for the painting's theme.