How did Johannes Vermeer’s late painting style differ from his style of the 1660s?

Johannes Vermeer’s late painting style, which emerged around 1670, represented a distinct shift from the techniques he employed during the 1660s. While his earlier works were characterized by carefully modulated tones and colors, his later style became notably crisper and possessed greater atmospheric clarity.1

Around 1670, Vermeer moved away from his previous approach toward a more direct and bolder technique. In his later paintings, such as Lady Writing a Letter with Her Maid and The Guitar Player, he utilized sharply defined planes of color and angular rhythms to evoke a sense of emotional energy. This evolution marked a departure from the luminous, tranquil, and meticulously blended interior scenes that defined his reputation during the 1660s.12