Pastel artwork depicting a group of museum visitors viewed from behind as they gather before Vermeer’s The Milkmaid in the Rijksmuseum, with the framed painting set against a dark gallery wall and surrounded by layered human figures, subtle lighting, and carefully rendered textures that emphasise viewpoint, depth and the act of looking.
Pastel artwork depicting a group of museum visitors viewed from behind as they gather before Vermeer’s The Milkmaid in the Rijksmuseum, with the framed painting set against a dark gallery wall and surrounded by layered human figures, subtle lighting, and carefully rendered textures that emphasise viewpoint, depth and the act of looking.
Pastel artwork depicting a group of museum visitors viewed from behind as they gather before Vermeer’s The Milkmaid in the Rijksmuseum, with the framed painting set against a dark gallery wall and surrounded by layered human figures, subtle lighting, and carefully rendered textures that emphasise viewpoint, depth and the act of looking.
Pastel artwork depicting a group of museum visitors viewed from behind as they gather before Vermeer’s The Milkmaid in the Rijksmuseum, with the framed painting set against a dark gallery wall and surrounded by layered human figures, subtle lighting, and carefully rendered textures that emphasise viewpoint, depth and the act of looking.
Pastel artwork depicting a group of museum visitors viewed from behind as they gather before Vermeer’s The Milkmaid in the Rijksmuseum, with the framed painting set against a dark gallery wall and surrounded by layered human figures, subtle lighting, and carefully rendered textures that emphasise viewpoint, depth and the act of looking.
Pastel artwork depicting a group of museum visitors viewed from behind as they gather before Vermeer’s The Milkmaid in the Rijksmuseum, with the framed painting set against a dark gallery wall and surrounded by layered human figures, subtle lighting, and carefully rendered textures that emphasise viewpoint, depth and the act of looking.
Pastel artwork depicting a group of museum visitors viewed from behind as they gather before Vermeer’s The Milkmaid in the Rijksmuseum, with the framed painting set against a dark gallery wall and surrounded by layered human figures, subtle lighting, and carefully rendered textures that emphasise viewpoint, depth and the act of looking.
Pastel artwork depicting a group of museum visitors viewed from behind as they gather before Vermeer’s The Milkmaid in the Rijksmuseum, with the framed painting set against a dark gallery wall and surrounded by layered human figures, subtle lighting, and carefully rendered textures that emphasise viewpoint, depth and the act of looking.
Pastel artwork depicting a group of museum visitors viewed from behind as they gather before Vermeer’s The Milkmaid in the Rijksmuseum, with the framed painting set against a dark gallery wall and surrounded by layered human figures, subtle lighting, and carefully rendered textures that emphasise viewpoint, depth and the act of looking.
Pastel artwork depicting a group of museum visitors viewed from behind as they gather before Vermeer’s The Milkmaid in the Rijksmuseum, with the framed painting set against a dark gallery wall and surrounded by layered human figures, subtle lighting, and carefully rendered textures that emphasise viewpoint, depth and the act of looking.
Pastel artwork depicting a group of museum visitors viewed from behind as they gather before Vermeer’s The Milkmaid in the Rijksmuseum, with the framed painting set against a dark gallery wall and surrounded by layered human figures, subtle lighting, and carefully rendered textures that emphasise viewpoint, depth and the act of looking.
Pastel artwork depicting a group of museum visitors viewed from behind as they gather before Vermeer’s The Milkmaid in the Rijksmuseum, with the framed painting set against a dark gallery wall and surrounded by layered human figures, subtle lighting, and carefully rendered textures that emphasise viewpoint, depth and the act of looking.
Ray West

PERSPECTIVE (Original)

Perspective explores the quiet choreography between artwork and audience. Set within the Rijksmuseum, the composition turns away from the celebrated masterpiece itself and instead focuses on those gathered before it - viewers competing for position, glancing, lingering, recording, and moving on.

At the centre hangs Vermeer’s The Milkmaid, framed not just by wood and glass, but by human presence. By shifting the viewpoint and placing the audience in the foreground, Ray reframes the act of looking itself. The painting becomes less about the historic work on the wall and more about how we choose to engage with it – where we stand, how long we pause, and what we take away.

Executed with exceptional control in pastel, Perspective is both observational and quietly philosophical. It invites reflection on how meaning is formed – not only by what we see, but by the position we take in relation to it.

Material: Painted using Carbothello, Derwent and Faber-Castell pastel pencils, Unison and Rembrandt soft pastels, on light grey Pastelmat board.
Size (Artwork): 34 x 48 cm
Size (Framed): Professionally framed (43 x 57 x 3 cm) with double frame between anti-reflective 'ARTGLASS AR 70' (Artglass protects and displays artworks in the most prestigious museums around the world).
Created: Aug-24

OPTION: Print available as Limited Edition of 55: £175.00

£1,655.00
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