The composition of Velázquez's masterpiece is designed to make the viewer feel as if they have just entered the room depicted. The subjects' direct gazes create a powerful illusion, transforming the passive act of viewing into an active, immersive experience where the observer becomes part of the narrative.
An art expert's transformative experience with 'Las Meninas' was accidental; she visited the Prado museum without knowing the painting was there. This suggests that encountering great art without premeditation or expectation can lead to a more profound and personal emotional connection, stripped of academic or critical baggage.
'Las Meninas' was painted as Spain's "Golden Age" was waning. The painting's complex interplay between reality and illusion serves as a metaphor for the Spanish court's efforts to maintain a grand facade of power and stability, even as the empire's influence and wealth were diminishing.