Diego Velazquez's most famous painting of points of view and hidden meanings, "Las Meninas", was painted in the height of the Spanish's rule over the world. The piece was painted in 1656. After he'd finished painting this piece, he'd returned to it a little while later to paint the cross on his chest, which wasn't there in the first place. The painting was made during the rule of King Philip IV and Queen Mariana of Spain, who is in the background, and their daughter, Infanta Margaret Theresa. Standing by her side are her ladies in waiting, two members of staff, two dwarves, a dog, and himself. The focal point of the painting is unclear, but our eyes are drawn to the princess and her ladies in waiting, and the mirror in the background. The mirror stands out to us from the rest of the paintings on the walls due to the lighting. However , standing in a stairwell, is a man who might be the king himself, who is also being featured in the mirror. Scholars have speculated that, perhaps, the reflection comes from the painting Velazquez is working on, if the man in the stairwell is indeed the King. The use of lighting falling on the princess and her ladies in waiting causes us to be instantly attracted to them first, especially with the name of the piece translating into "The Ladies-in-Waiting". However, as you begin to take a closer look, you'll see the rest of the world Velasquez had painted. He had used quick strokes that seem so rushed, especially around the sleeves, when looked at closely. However, when you look at it from a distance, it honestly makes the painting seem more realistic.
Everyone in the picture's gaze is directed towards the person viewing the painting, creating a haunted feeling, like you're being watched through a mirror by an array of interesting people, all of which are related to the royal family in one way or another. When I look at this piece, I am drawn to the detail, especially at the ends of dresses and the coat of the dog.
One website, however, tells that the painting Velasquez is creating is one of the princess. I, however, disagree, as the princess is not wearing her regal wear, not facing the canvas, and Velasquez's eyes are not on her. The site wasn't professional in their understanding, and only looked at what was right in front of them. However, they did see similarities in Velasquez's other pieces, such as "Christ in the House of Martha and Mary". What I presume about this piece is that it's a self-portrai, with Velasquez surrounded by what identifies him. He is in his art studio, with the princess of Spain, a member of the family he was assigned to paint, two dwarves, who he found to be his muse for at least ten of his paintings, and in most of these paintings he would paint the dwarves with dogs. Between the the fifteenth and eighteenth century, dwarves were often perceived as religious figures a
"Las Meninas", Wikipedia, 2016