As a character, Griet is so well written, the more I read it the more I learned just how clever she is. One of her most amazing abilities is her affinity for colors and her frankly unexplained ability to identify what a painting is missing. For example; in the opening scene, when questioned about her strange placement about the ingredients for a stew, Griet explained that the color’s clashed when placed together. In addition when she was being painted, she was able to identify what the painting was missing before Vermeer could.
Griets emotional prowess, with her ability to manipulate a conversation to appease Tanneke and placate her power hungry attitude, was also a mark in her favor. For example; while informing Tanneke that Griet plans to go to the meat market. Tanneke tells her that she normally goes later, Griet states that she wants to run to the market while waiting for the water to boil. What Griet left out was that the market sells the best cuts of meat earlier. Griet knew that Tanneke should’ve known that, but instead she left it out to not sour her mood. Later on Griet and Tanneke were talking about how Vermeer painted Tanneke. Griet realizing that Tanneke was using this as a power move to try and make herself feel better for Griet being able to clean the masters studio. Griet instead of rising to the bait, decided to comment on how Van Ruijven has her painting, which brightened Tannekes mood. Griet remarked that the right words would change her mood, and used that understanding of Tanneke to her advantage often.
In addition, Griet developed an ingenious way to clean her masters studio and get underneath the staged object’s, as well as put them back in place. Griet would measure the object with her hands, move the object, clean underneath it, and then put the items back.
Griets ability to handle situations that might put her at risk, of her standing in the house and her job, and mitigating the situation without being in worst standing, was amazing to read. The perspective in combination with Griets cleverness gives the reader a sense of knowing something that the character does not, and I found that it was very fun to follow along.