The explosion of painterly talent in Delft began then with attempts to reproduce Italian effects (especially the bright sunlight) with the Dutch subject matter that appealed to local patrons. Rivalry among these artists, and knowledge of new inventions such as the camera obscura, spurred innovation in both themes and techniques. It was a glorious moment, which ended when that particular generation died (Vermeer in 1676) and their successors, competing now for a diminishing clientele, became more cautiously repetitive of what had worked in the past. (2001-6-6)

El cuerpo que habito
lo comparto con otro hombre, soltero como yo.
Cuando nos cruzamos en la escalera
— si yo (por ejemplo) voy camino a la boca y él
(por ejemplo) hacia el corazón o la panza –,
nos saludamos correctamente.
Pero en realidad apenas lo conozco.