Close analysis of the painting Girl with a Flute, long attributed to the seventeenth-century Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, has revealed

Question

Close analysis of the painting Girl with a Flute, long attributed to the seventeenth-century Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, has revealed subtle deviations from the artist&rsquo;s signature techniques. These variations suggest that the work may be that of a student under Vermeer&rsquo;s tutelage-potentially ______ blank our understanding of Vermeer as a solitary artist. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

Accepted Answer

Choice A is the best answer. "Negating" means "reversing" or "making invalid." Proving that Vermeer worked with students would reverse the view of him as a solitary artist. Choice B is incorrect. "Prefiguring" means "being an early indior of." There already existed views of Vermeer as a solitary painter, so a new painting would not be an early indior of those views. Rather, a painting proving that Vermeer had a student would contradict those earlier views. Choice C is incorrect. "Entrenching" means "solidifying." A painting proving that Vermeer had a student would not solidify views of him as solitary, but would rather contradict those views. Choice D is incorrect. "Substantiating" means "supporting with proof." A painting proving that Vermeer had a student would not support views of him as solitary, but would rather contradict those views.

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