An American fan of Vermeer who trained under Gérôme in Paris thought he’d discovered Vermeer’s optical secrets, and revived his defocussed style.
focus
Photographic lenses introduced depth of field effects, something not normally seen in normal human vision. A few paintings followed photographs.
The paintings of Johannes Vermeer (1632–1675) were quickly forgotten after his death, and his art fell into obscurity. […]
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Few landscape painters since have not been deeply influenced by his pioneering paintings. He also anticipated photographic effects on focus.
The Eclectic Light Company 