The geographer, pictured here as a wealthy Dutch man, gazes mid-calculation into the distance. Light pouring in through the window bathes his maps and scrolls in clarity. Notice the opulent oriental rug thrown over the desk in the foreground, and the shadow cast by the globe by the high window.This work exhibits “pentimenti” (singular “pentimento”): visible traces of previous work, showing that the artist has changed his mind about the painting’s composition during the process.
A vague pentimento of the geographer’s forehead is visible to the left of the figure, likely indicating that Vermeer originally portrayed him looking down at the chart lying on the table. In addition, Vermeer altered the position of the compass in the geographer's hand. It originally pointed downwards rather than across the geographer's body. The final alignment follows more naturally the direction of the rolled yellow scroll and the incoming light.
Both Vermeer’s pentimenti show how he worked to capture a more enchanting scene, one of wonder rather than work.
