The Milkmaid (detail)
by VERMEER, Johannes, Oil on canvas
In 1888 Vincent van Gogh wrote to Emile Bernard: “It is true that in the few pictures he (Vermeer) painted, one can find the entire scale of colours; but the use of lemon yellow, pale blue and light grey together is as characteristic of him as the harmony of black, white, grey and pink is of Vel�zquez.”