“Girl with a Pearl Earring”
“Girl with a Pearl Earring” is an iconic oil on canvas painting by the artist from the Dutch Golden Age of Art, Johannes Vermeer, from circa 1665. It is considered Vermeer’s masterpiece and is often referred to as the ‘Mona Lisa of the North’. Vermeer is recognized as a master of depicting light, which is evident in the light upon the girl’s face, mouth, and reflecting off her eyes and earring.
This is an unconventional portrait and as such, scholars believe it might be a tronie. A tronie is a portrait painting of a person with exaggerated facial expressions, often in costume. It was a popular type of painting during the Dutch Golden Age of art. This piece was originally titled, “Girl with the Turban”, but its name was changed in the latter half of the twentieth century. The turban was not an accessory worn by Dutch girls but was a popular prop used by artists at the time. The turban had recently been introduced into Dutch culture from slavery and trade.
Some scholars believe that the painting depicts Vermeer’s oldest daughter, Maria, who was 12 or 13 years old at the time it was painted, though this remains a speculation.
“Girl with a Pearl Earring” is currently on display at the Mauritshuis art museum in The Hague, Netherlands.
For more on Johannes Vermeer, please visit his short biography here.
You can find more artists to learn about here.
