“The Music Lesson” by Johannes Vermeer
At first glance, “The Music Lesson” by Johannes Vermeer seems to be an innocent image of a young woman learning how to play the piano. But in reality, it’s full of hidden symbols of sexuality. At first, it appears as though she is looking down at the keys. But if you look in the mirror, you can see that her face is turned, and her eyes locked with the gaze of her instructor. There are also small hidden symbols throughout the painting, like the wine on the table that is meant to be an aphrodisiac. There is also an instrument on the floor that apparently symbolizes the phallic symbol. Probably the most telling was the Latin inscription hidden in the painting that said, “‘Music is a companion in pleasure and a balm in sorrow.’ This painting was so sought-after, it became a part of the British Royal Collection Trust.