The wine glass, discreetly shown on the table behind the songbook, is tied with both joyfulness and seduction.

In the 17th century it was popular to paint scenes that depicted feasts that included drinking, gaming, and playing music.

The glass appears full and untouched, which symbolizes the slow moving relationship between the man and the woman.

On the left side of the painting is a multi-paned window, from which the light source is provided for the scene.

The precision of the lighting from the window was thought to prove that it was in fact an original Vermeer.

You can see the minute details including the lion head carving, the brass studs, and the “lozenge” pattern that were all popular aspects of furniture during the time.

Playing music with one another was one of the few activities where young people of the opposite sex could socialize.

The two in the painting were likely part of the haute bourgeoisie, which meant that they were worldly and educated when it came to music, and each likely had a personal collection of songbooks.

In her song At the Frick Museum from the album Queens of the Summer Hotel, singer-songwriter Aimee Mann references Vermeer’s Girl Interrupted at Her Music.