“Girl with a Pearl Earring”
This iconic oil on canvas painting is by the Dutch Baroque artist from the Dutch Golden Age of Art, Johannes Vermeer, from circa 1665 and is titled “Girl with a Pearl Earring”. It is considered Vermeer’s masterpiece and is often referred to as the ‘Mona Lisa of the North’. Vermeer is considered to be a master of depicting light, which is evident in the light upon the girl’s face, mouth, and reflecting off her eyes.
This is a more unconventional portrait and as such, scholars believe that it is a tronie. A tronie is a Dutch golden age style of painting with exaggerated facial expressions often in costume. This painting was originally known as the “Girl with the Turban”, but its name was changed in the latter half of the twentieth century. The turban was not worn by Dutch girls. However, it was a popular prop at the time it was painted, as it 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 (the same facial features have appeared in other Vermeer works), though that 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.
