Jan Johannes Vermeer: The Girl with the Pearl Earring - 1665. Click to enlarge.
The painting Girl with a Pearl Earring is without doubt the most famous work of the Dutch baroque artist Johannes Vermeer. The original Dutch title is Het Meisje met de Parel, what means basically the same as the English title, but skips the Earring. The painting was executed as oil on canvans, measures 44.5 cm × 39 cm, i.e. 17.5 in × 15 in, and is estimated at around 1665.
Other names have been assigned to the painting as well: “Mona Lisa of the North” or “Dutch Mona Lisa” are just two examples. It was auctioned in 1885 in The Hague where it received not more than two Gulden and thirty cent. Whether it was the bad condition which required renovation or just uncertain authorship is unclear. The popularity of nowadays is certainly a merit of the same named novel and film.
Description
The Girl with Pearl Earring stands in front of a dark, yet due to its complexity not black, background. No context is given and the colors used for the maid will give her maximal exposure: A soft light shines on her face, while the turban on her head is painted in a bright and strong blue and yellow. Her lips are held in a deep red, what balances the focus of the viewer. The true focal point however is – and here we might argue a bit – either the reflecting pearl earring or the fact, that her eyes seem to interact with the viewer. Otherwise, she seems to be a little bit lost in her thoughts, a very typical atmosphere in Vermeer’s paintings. The interaction with the viewer however, is less typical and for sure a crucial element which determines enchanting attractiveness of this painting.
We do not know who the girl is, neither if the work was commissioned or if we see a paid model. The turban was by the way a popular accessory during the 17th century as oriental culture enjoyed a risen interest after the wars with the Ottoman wars in Europe.
Exposition
The Girl with Pearl Earring was acquired by the Mauritshuis, The Hague where it is shown with two other paintings by Vermeer. These are: Diana and Her Companions and the View of Delft.
