Johannes Vermeer of Delft [1632-1675] and vision in neuroendoscopy

Abstract

Background: Johannes Vermeer of Delft [1632-1675] was one of the greatest Masters of the Dutch Golden Age who was intensely preoccupied with the behavior of light and other optical effects and was entitled "The Master of Light". He fastidiously attended to the subtleties of visual expression through geometry, composition, and precise mastery of the rules of perspective. It has been our impression that some visual similarity does exist between neuroendoscopic images and some of Vermeer's paintings. Such a relation could be explained by the fact that optical devices are utilized in producing both types of display.

Methods: We reviewed the pertinent medical and art literature, observed some video clips of our endoscopy cases, and inspected digital high resolution images of Vermeer's paintings in order to elaborate on shared optical phenomena between neuroendoscopic views and Vermeer's paintings.

Results: Specific optical phenomena are indeed shared by Johannes Vermeer's works and neuroendoscopic vision, namely light and color effects as well as the rules of perspective.

Conclusion: From the physical point of view, the possibility that a camera obscura inspired Vermeer's artistic creation makes the existence of a visual link between his paintings and the endoscopic views of the intracranial cavity comprehensible.

Keywords: Light; Vermeer; neuroendoscopy; vision.

Figure 1

Sense of reality in Vermeer's works. Left: Detail from The Milkmaid. Note the almost real appearance of the hanging basket, the cupper vessel and the broken glass of the window. (With permission from Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands). Middle: Detail from The Glass of Wine. Note the reflection of light on the glass and the lady's nail paint. (Photo credit © bpk - Bildagentur für Kunst, Kultur und Geschichte, Berlin - Staatliche Museen, Gemäldegalerie, Berlin - Jörg P. Anders - Johannes (Jan) Vermeer van Delft, Das Glas Wein). Right: Detail from The Little Street. The rusty metal hinges of the wooden window shutters contribute to the wary appearance of the old house. (With permission from Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Figure 2

Similarity between endocopic views and Vermeer's paintings. Details from The Little Street, Upper and Middle Panels. (With permission from Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands). The vine tree sloping down onto the open window shutter and the door frame directs the viewer inside the house (Upper Right), as the choroid plexus leads visually into the foramen of Monro in the endoscopic view obtained during an endoscopic third ventriculostomy (Upper Left). The blue color of the thalamostriate vein in the endoscopic view echoes to the color of the vine tree intensifying the sense of optical similarity. Further into the house, a maid is washing at the end of the alleyway and an unused broom is ready to be held in action (Middle Center) simulates the Fogarty's catheter about to penetrate the third ventricular floor down in the depth (Middle Left). Note how the tiny vascular pattern on the surface of the mamillary bodies simulates the rows of weary cobblestone in front of the building (Middle Right) contributing to a sense of slow motion directed towards a deeper level of both scenes. (With permission from Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands). Lower Left, Details from The Glass of Wine, Staatliche Museen, Gemäldegalerie, Berlin, and an endoscopic view during microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia (Lower right). The subtle grades of white and off-white of the brainstem and trigeminal nerve notably simulate the whites of the head cap and the white garment covering the upper chest and shoulders of the lady. Compare the blood vessels converging into and encircle the trigeminal nerve in the endoscopic view to the postures of the lady's arm encircling her torso. The red hues of the blood vessels against the background color of neural tissue in the endoscopic view and the reds of the dress and its folds greatly enhance the sense of similarity. (Photo credit © bpk - Bildagentur für Kunst, Kultur und Geschichte, Berlin - Staatliche Museen, Gemäldegalerie, Berlin - Jörg P. Anders - Johannes (Jan) Vermeer van Delft, Das Glas Wein)

Figure 3

Additional images with features of similarity. Details from The Milkmaid, upper and lower left. Compare each of the images to the corresponding endoscopic dissection image on the right. In the upper images, the low angle of view of the brain stem with close view resembles the woman's head. Note the woman's lower arm in comparison to the cranial nerve and the convergence into the milk vessel compared the jugular foramen in the endoscopic view. With permission from Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Figure 4

Examples of intracranial endoscopic procedures. The endoscope brings the light source and lens close to the area of interest and provides brightly illuminated and detailed panoramic views of the target structure within its intracranial environment. (a) Endoscopic endonasal sellar approach in a cadaveric specimen. (b) Endoscopic endonasal excision of a pituitary macroadenoma. Note the demarcation between the pituitary gland and tumor tissue. (c) Endoscopic image of the trigeminal nerve in Mickel's cave during an endoscope-assisted microvascular decompression

Figure 5

A Girl Reading a Letter by an Open Window. Johannes Vermeer, circa 1657, oil on canvas, 83 × 64.5 cm, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen, Dresden, Germany. Photo Credit: Erich Lessing, Art Resource, New York, NY, USA

Figure 6

The Milkmaid. Johannes Vermeer, circa 1658-1661, oil on canvas, 45.5 × 41 cm, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. With permission from Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Figure 7

Detail from The Milkmaid. Small touches of white, light ochre, reddish brown, brown, and greenish gray join together to build the form of the naturally looking face of the lady. With permission from Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Figure 8

The Glass of Wine, Johannes Vermeer, circa 1661-1662, oil on canvas, 65 × 77 cm, Staatliche Museen, Gemäldegalerie, Berlin. (Photo credit © bpk - Bildagentur für Kunst, Kultur und Geschichte, Berlin - Staatliche Museen, Gemäldegalerie, Berlin - Jörg P. Anders - Johannes (Jan) Vermeer van Delft, Das Glas Wein)

Figure 9

Vision in neuroendoscopy and the rules of perspective. Images from a case of endoscopic shunt insertion into an isolated temporal horn (a-f). Note the alteration of the views of the choroid plexus and the ventricular catheter brought about by changes in the trajectory of the endoscope shaft

Figure 10

The Little Street, also known as View of Houses in Delft Johannes Vermeer, circa 1657-1661, oil on canvas, 53.3 × 44 cm, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. With permission from Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands