This document provides background information and analysis of Johannes Vermeer's painting "The Milkmaid". It discusses that Vermeer was a 17th century Dutch painter known for his domestic interior scenes and depictions of middle-class life. The painting shows a young, sturdily built woman pouring milk from a jug into a container on a table, with various types of bread also on the table. Through Vermeer's use of light and paint techniques, the woman takes on a mysterious quality that seems to express wistfulness or concentration. A poem is also included that depicts the woman and her daily task in a positive, graceful light.