Las Meninas

Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez

Las Meninas is set in an art studio. In the center, Infanta Margarita Teresa stands with her servants (called meninas, hence the title), a person who has dwarfism, and a man in the doorway. He is supposedly José Nieto, who was the head of the queen's tapestry works. This is believed because his hand is on the tapestry, almost representing his role in the court. There is also a dog in the scene. Typically, dogs in art have represented fidelity (and it is likely that the canine plays the same role here). The painting is a display of the entirety of court life: the servants, the royalty, even their loyal pets. The king and queen even make an appearance in the back, either as a portrait or reflected in the mirror. 

A close up on the painting

The perspective that the painting's viewer is looking through is ambiguous. The viewer themselves is almost bearing witness to the intimate scene, since the artist (Velázquez), the Infanta, and several other people in the scene are looking directly at them. There are a couple of theories about whose perspective the viewer is looking through, with some asserting that it is the king and queen (which is what the mirror is reflecting). However, regardless of whose eyes we are looking through, the painting itself is completely centered around the viewer's experience. They are invited into the scene, walking into an intimate moment between the royal family and their servants. They are almost royalty themselves, regardless of whether or not they are the king or queen, since they are standing (or are) beside the monarchs. One of the other mysteries of the painting is who exactly the painter is painting. It is possible that he is painting the Infanta, hence her appearance in the painting. However, he could also be painting the king and queen, which could be what the reflection is showing (instead of the other interpretation that the audience is staring through the king and queen's eyes). It is also possible that Velázquez is actually painting Las Meninas or the viewer themself. There is no way to know what exactly he is painting, which highlights the Baroque period's frequent exploration of reality and ambiguity. 

Diego Velázquez as he appears in Las Meninas

Velázquez himself has an important role in the painting. He depicts himself wearing the cross of the Order of Santiago. This emphasizes his knighthood, and his importance to the King. It also shows the importance of the painting itself, since it is associated with royal symbols. Velázquez makes himself appear extremely important. He is decked in royal gear, bearing the keys to the palace, and occupies the same space as the royal family. He emphasizes the importance and dignity of art and his role in court. However, he is still respectable of the king and queen and pauses in front of the viewer (who is established as having almost royal status). Ultimately, Velazquez depicts himself as both powerful and reverent, showing that while he is an incredibly important figure, he is also still below the king and queen. 

Perspective shown in Las Meninas

Las Meninas utilizes light as a way to show perspective. It draws the viewer into the scene, creating a compelling and natural scene. As is characteristic of Baroque art, there is a strong contrast of darkness and light. For example, the light filtering through the doorway creates a sense of time that adds to the realism of the painting. Velázquez works in small details to create this sense of realism as well, such as the texture of the fabric and hair. This gives the painting a sense of timelessness that aligns the arts with royalty, has a gorgeous sense of realism, and shows the extent of Velázquez's vision and artistry. 

Infanta Margarita Teresa grown-up

One of the best things about Las Meninas is how natural it looks. It is a scene with a multitude of infinitesimal moments happening at once. There is the meninas fawning over the Infanta, the two guardians in the back having their own conversation, Nieto in the background watching the scene, and more. It reads as natural because it of all of these small events. The viewer is able to find several new things to observe and understand, and each one gives a new perspective on the narrative. The scene works because it allows for multiple stories to be told at once in various small ways. It has a certain candidness that is both realistic and fascinating for the viewer.