“Tell me, Griet,” he continued, “do you think I simply paint
what is there in that corner?”
I glanced at the painting, unable to answer. I felt as if I were
being tricked. Whatever I answered would be wrong.
“The camera obscura helps me to see in a different way,” he
explained. “To see more of what is there.”
When he saw the baffled expression on my face he must
have regretted saying so much to someone like me. He turned
and snapped the box shut. I slipped off his robe and held it out
to him.
“Sir—”
“Thank you, Griet,” he said as he took it from me. “Have you
finished with the cleaning here?”
“Yes, sir.”
“You may go, then.”
“Thank you, sir.” I quickly gathered my cleaning things and
left, the door clicking shut behind me.
