The Little Street in DelftJohannes Vermeer

Johannes Vermeer’s painting, The Little Street (c. 1660), uniquely depicts ordinary houses, a rarity in his work. The composition balances excitement and harmony, with bricks, whitewash, and cracks rendered almost tangible. The right house, at Vlamingstraat 40–42 in Delft, was home to Vermeer’s aunt Ariaentgen Claes and her children from around 1645 until her death in 1670, adding personal significance to the scene.