Generally, 34 paintings are attributed to Johannes Vermeer. That figure refers to works considered firmly attributable, while several additional paintings remain debated.
Vermeer (1632–1675) was a Dutch painter from Delft whose surviving output is unusually small. He produced mostly intimate interior scenes, often showing one or two figures beside a window, with carefully controlled light, blue-and-yellow color harmonies, and domestic objects that reward close study.
The count has changed over time. In the nineteenth century, many more paintings were credited to Vermeer; forged works and mistaken attributions were gradually removed as connoisseurship and technical research improved. Modern catalogues commonly distinguish 34 secure paintings from roughly three disputed candidates.
A related surprise is that only three surviving paintings bear dates written by Vermeer: The Procuress, The Astronomer, and The Geographer. His limited documented output and lack of known drawings make questions of attribution especially important.