Johannes Vermeer signature

Dutch painter, 1632–1675

Inspired by Johannes Vermeer’s signature

A rendering in a modern handwriting font, made for this page. It is not the real signature; see where to view the original below. Where to see the original ↓Style: Birthstone, slant 0°

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Pinyon Script · 4°

Who Johannes Vermeer was

Johannes Vermeer was baptised in Delft in October 1632 and buried there in December 1675. He painted slowly; only around 35 to 37 paintings are generally attributed to him today, among them The Milkmaid, The Little Street and Girl with a Pearl Earring.

Little is known about his life, so his signatures, on paintings and on a handful of documents, matter more than usual.

The story of the signature

On many paintings Vermeer signed with a ligature: the I (for Johannes, since I and J were still used interchangeably) and a V joined to an M, followed by “eer”, giving “IVMeer”. Some signatures are written out more simply, as “I V Meer”. Only a few of his works are dated; The Procuress of 1656 carries both a signature and the year.

Not every signature on a painting attributed to Vermeer is accepted as his. Some were added later, and some paintings once signed “Vermeer” have turned out to be by other artists, most famously the forgeries made by Han van Meegeren in the 1930s and 1940s. Experts treat each signature as one piece of evidence among many.

His signature also survives on paper. A Delft notarial record of December 1655 carries the signatures of Vermeer and his wife, Catharina Bolnes, a rare example of his hand outside a painting.

What makes it distinctive

The ligature

I, V and M joined into one mark, with “eer” trailing after it.

I for J

The initial is written as I, the normal form of the period.

Quiet placement

The signature often sits on a wall, map or object in the picture, part of the scene rather than added on top.

Rarely dated

Only a few paintings carry a year, which makes dating his work difficult.

How to give your signature a similar feel

Make a ligature from your initials and surname: let two capitals share a stroke, then continue with the rest of the name. Sketch it in the Draw tab of the signature generator.
For a typed version, Birthstone or Pinyon Script with the Slant at 0° keeps the upright, calm look of a painted signature.
Keep it small. Vermeer’s signatures are discreet and easy to miss.
If you sign artwork, place the signature where it belongs to the composition rather than in a corner by habit.

Where to see the original

These links lead to archives, libraries, museums and Wikimedia Commons.

Questions about Johannes Vermeer’s signature

How did Vermeer sign his paintings?

Often with a ligature reading IVMeer, in which the I, V and M are joined. Other signatures are written out as “I V Meer”.

Are all Vermeer signatures genuine?

No. Some were added by later hands, and forgers such as Han van Meegeren signed their fakes with his name, so experts weigh each signature with other evidence.

Did Vermeer date his paintings?

Rarely. The Procuress of 1656 is one of the few dated works.