"Las Meninas": Is there some larger philosophical, historical, or social context that informs the work?

Answer 1

the most obvious focal point of the composition is the young princess, the infanta Margarita, who is emphasized by her position in the center of the painting by the light that shines on her alone and by the implied lines created by the gazes of the two maids of honor who bracket her. But the figures outside this central group, that of a dwarf on the right who is also a maid of honor,and the painter on the left (self portrait of velasquez) gaze away from the infanta. In fact they seem to be looking at us, and so too the infanta herself. The focal point of their attention lies outside the picture plane . In fact they are looking at a spot that appears to be occupied by the couple reflected in the mirror at the opposite end of the room ,over the infanta's shoulder a couple that turns out to be the king philip IV and queen mariana recognizable by two portrait drawn by velasquez at the same time as las meninas. It seems that they are the subject of the painting that velasquez depicts himself as painting since they are in the position that would be occupied normally by persons sitting for a portrait . the infanta margarita and her maids of honor have come to watch the royal couple have their portrait painted by the great velasquez . and velasquez has turned the tables on everyone- the focal point of las meninas is not the focal point of what he is painting .