The Milkmaid is painted by which Dutch master?

• A. Rembrandt
• B. Johannes Vermeer
• C. Jan Steen
• D. Piet Mondrian

Answer: (B)

This question tests your ability to link a famous work to its artist by recognizing distinctive style and subject matter. The Milkmaid is a quintessential Vermeer piece: a serene, well-lit domestic interior with a woman calmly pouring milk, rendered with meticulous attention to texture and light. Vermeer is known for capturing everyday life through quiet, controlled illumination and precise, almost photographic detail in objects like bread, pottery, and fabric. Those qualities set this painting apart from the others: Rembrandt is famous for dramatic contrasts and expressive brushwork, Jan Steen for busy, often humorous or moralizing scenes, and Piet Mondrian for 20th-century abstract compositions with geometric shapes and primary colors. So, the best match is Johannes Vermeer.