Why is this painting so captivating? - James Earle and Christina Bozsik

On first glance, the painting “Las Meninas” (“The Maids of Honor”) might not seem terribly special, but it’s actually one of the most analyzed pieces in the history of art. Why is this painting by Diego Velazquez so captivating? James Earle and Christina Bozsik share the context and complexity behind this work of art.

Lesson by James Earle and Christina Bozsik, animation by Zedem Media.

[Nerdwriter]

Great work, TED. YouTube deserves more painting analysis.

[ShawnRavenfire]

Also, the viewer is seeing from the king's perspective.  In a way, it's like a photograph, where the king can look at the painting and remember a specific moment in time from his own point of view.

[rohanpandey]

Didn't go into this video expecting much, but it was actually really interesting!

[manucrosetto]

I visited the Prado museum in 1999 and I remember this painting. It's so captivating because it makes you feel like you are part of the scene. The clever thing is that the reflection might be there to make it look like you are the King or Queen. when I visited the museum I also appreciated paintings by Goya because his canvases reflect the historical period with political and social troubles.

[minervacuervo]

I saw this piece in person. It’s much larger than it seems on screen -not life size- however, it draws you in. You feel you are part of the scene, as if you were standing there with the painter and the royals. This and the Burial of The Count Orgaz by El Greco blew my mind away

[JerEnNixP]

Another interpretation: The entire portrait is a mirror. The girl is the viewer looking at the mirror reflecting what is going on behind her, incl. the painter. Behind her there is a mirror reflecting the king & queen. But the king and queen is NOT seen in the mirror in front of her. The king and queen is either in front of the girl AND beyond the large mirror(beyond the reality of the portrait). OR they are idealised figments of the girl's reality which she asks the painter to include in the final portrait. Thus the entire painting is a reflection of the girl's ideal which does not reflect the famine at the time.

[Suite_annamite]

More of these painting analyses, please!

[vivamigorky]

This magnificent painting is in my opinion a fabulous self portrait of Velasquez painting a hugh portrait of the King and Queen. He paints all the persons and the dog from memory, as he knows them well, in very studied positions and depicting real depth and atmosphere. No other painter did any work quite like this.

[avivastudios]

The idea that someone would paint a painting that size knowing just how long it would take to finish is the most incredible thing to me. And with so many characters in it too. And a room that is drawn SO well. It DOES look like you can walk in it.

[shedskin]

To appreciate this phenomenal work live at El Prado has been truly a highlight of my life. To do while accompanying my mother who was visiting Europe for the first time and who provided lots of insight from all the books she’d read as a European history and art fanatic was just the icing on the cake for a profoundly treasured memory!

[PhoebeHB]

This might be a really dumb question, but how do you know that's it's a mirror and not just a painting hanging on the wall?

[lucasv.]

Absolutely true I was at the Prado yesterday and was shocked by how this painting makes you feel like you are in the same room as the people in the painting! when you look deeper you see interesting things like a mirror reflecting the king and queen... it’s great to see the thinking behind it :)

[clp]

I actually saw this painting in person and it’s so beautiful and it feels almost real. It feels like you’re actually there.

[ClassWalton]

The power of Art never ceases to amaze me. Nice work, Ted-Ed.

[LaitoChen]

Nerdwriter did a Youtube video analysis of this painting too. You should check him out

[june]

painting analysis is so interesting, you are no longer just seeing it with the eye, but now it has a deeper meaning to the mind as well.

[inigoramirezdeaguilar]

It’s so captivating because it makes you feel like you are part of the picture, part of the scene going on. The cleverness of putting himself in the painting Maika the the portrait of the king and queen is so clever and makes it so realistic, you feel like you are there. One of my favorite paintings of all time.

[jameslm]

Wow, I loved this video!!! I don't have much exposure to classical art in my daily life. while in college I really enjoyed an art appreciation elective class I had. This reminds me of that. it amazes me how much meaning can be put into a painting, or can be read I to it.

[silentj]

I've never heard of this painting until this moment and I'm super impressed by it.

[RoxieCalico]

Saw this painting when on a trip to Spain, even without all this scholarly insight, the painting is beautiful and you can come to some of the same conclusions about its complexity. GG, Velasquez