Lena Rivera
Johannes Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring is one of the most famous paintings in the world. The oil painting, created around 1665, has captivated audiences with its beauty and mystery. The striking blue and yellow of the girl's headscarf, the enigmatic expression on her face, and the glistening pearl earring have all contributed to its popularity. The painting's subject, a young woman in exotic dress, has been the subject of much speculation, with some believing she was a real model, while others suggest she is a more generalized depiction of a Sibyl or biblical figure. The painting's restoration in 1994 revealed new insights into Vermeer's techniques and enhanced the intimacy of the girl's gaze. Girl with a Pearl Earring has inspired literary and cinematic works, including a novel by Tracy Chevalier and a film starring Scarlett Johansson, solidifying its place in popular culture.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Painter | Johannes Vermeer |
| Year | c. 1665 |
| Type | Oil painting on canvas |
| Genre | Tronie (not a portrait) |
| Subject | Unknown, possibly a real model or a generalized woman |
| Current location | Mauritshuis museum, The Hague |
| Previous owners | Pieter van Ruiven, Victor de Stuers, Arnoldus Andries des Tombe |
| Number of paintings by Vermeer | 36 |
| Background colour | Originally a deep enamel-like green, now mottled and dark |
| Girl's attire | Exotic dress, oriental turban, large pearl earring |
| Girl's expression | Enigmatic, with an intimate gaze |
| Painter's origin | Delft, the Netherlands |
| Painter's profession | Artist and art dealer |
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What You'll Learn
The painting's restoration
The painting "Girl with a Pearl Earring" by Johannes Vermeer has undergone several restorations that have enhanced the subtle colour scheme and the intimacy of the girl's gaze towards the viewer. The painting is a tronie, a Dutch 17th-century term for a "head" that was not meant to be a portrait but rather a depiction of a certain type or character. It is housed in the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague, Netherlands, and is one of Vermeer's most famous works.
The most recent restoration of the painting took place in 1994, and it revealed important details about the artwork. It was discovered that the dark background, which is somewhat mottled today, was originally a deep enamel-like green. This effect was achieved by applying a thin transparent layer of glaze, a mixture of indigo and weld, over the black background. However, these organic pigments have faded over time.
The restoration process also revealed that Vermeer made changes to the composition during the painting process. For example, the position of the ear, the top of the headscarf, and the back of the neck were shifted. Additionally, while the girl appears to have no eyelashes to the naked eye, macro-X-ray fluorescence scanning and microscopic examination revealed that Vermeer painted tiny hairs around both eyes.
The painting has been examined multiple times, with each examination bringing new insights and a deeper understanding of Vermeer's techniques. In 2014, Dutch astrophysicist Vincent Icke raised doubts about the material of the earring, arguing that its reflection, shape, and size suggest it may be made of polished tin rather than a pearl. However, regardless of the material, the earring remains a focal point, adding to the overall radiance of the painting.
The restoration process has not only enhanced the visual aspects of the painting but has also provided valuable information about Vermeer's techniques and the condition of the artwork. Through the use of advanced technologies, such as imaging techniques and macro-X-ray fluorescence scanning, the research team has been able to uncover new details and document the current condition of the painting for future monitoring.
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The subject's identity
The subject of Johannes Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring" is unknown. It is speculated that the girl may be a real person who modelled for Vermeer, perhaps a member of his household, or a servant as depicted in Tracy Chevalier's 1999 novel based on the painting. However, it is also possible that the girl is an imaginary figure, a tronie, a Dutch term for a character or type of person, and not a portrait. The girl's exotic dress and oriental turban suggest that she may represent a Sibyl from Greek mythology or a biblical figure.
The painting's title, "Girl with a Pearl Earring", was given because of the large earring worn by the girl. The earring is too large to be a real pearl and is likely an imitation, possibly made of glass or even a product of Vermeer's imagination, as pearls, both real and imitation, were fashionable during the period from 1650 to 1680. The large size of the earring, its pear shape, and the specular reflection have led some to suggest that it is made of polished tin rather than pearl.
The girl's identity remains a mystery, adding to the allure of the painting. Her expression is enigmatic, and she meets the viewer's gaze with wide eyes and parted lips as if about to speak. This intimacy of her gaze and the subtle colour scheme were enhanced in the 1994 restoration of the painting, during which it was discovered that the original background was a deep enamel-like green produced by a glaze over the current black background.
The painting has been the subject of much literary and cinematic interest, including Chevalier's novel and a 2003 film adaptation. It has also been appropriated by other artists, such as Peruvian painter Herman Braun-Vega, who used the image of the Dutch girl to personify the descendants of Europeans living in Latin America. "Girl with a Pearl Earring" is now one of Vermeer's most famous works, residing in the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague since 1902, and has been reproduced on various merchandise, contributing to its popular culture status.
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The artist's life
Johannes Vermeer was a Dutch painter who lived in the town of Delft in the 17th century. He was an art dealer and, though he was in debt several times, he was also a painter. In fact, he is now considered one of the most famous Dutch painters of the 17th century.
Vermeer was not well known outside of his native city of Delft during his lifetime or in the decades after. It wasn't until the 19th century that French critic Étienne-Joseph-Théophile-Thoré (under the pseudonym of William Bürger) reassessed the artist’s work, which eventually led to Vermeer’s distinguished reputation.
Vermeer only completed 36 paintings in his lifetime, while his contemporaries completed hundreds. He was a slow and deliberate painter, spending a long time on each painting. He was also a master of light, as seen in the softness of the girl’s face and the glimmers of light on her lips in 'Girl with a Pearl Earring'. He was also known for his use of colour, with the raw materials for his pigments coming from all over the world.
Vermeer's paintings mostly depicted scenes of ordinary life, often of women at daily tasks. Many of his paintings feature pearls, and he often painted women wearing exotic dress and oriental turbans.
Vermeer died in 1675 and 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' is thought to have come into the possession of his acquaintance Pieter van Ruiven, who supported him financially. The painting then had several owners before it was auctioned in The Hague in 1881. It was bought by art collector Arnoldus Andries des Tombe, who recognised it as a Vermeer, for only two guilders and thirty cents. On his death in 1902, Des Tombe bequeathed the painting to the Mauritshuis in The Hague, where it has hung ever since.
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The painting's journey
"Girl with a Pearl Earring" is one of the most famous paintings in the world. The oil painting on canvas was created by Dutch Golden Age painter Johannes Vermeer around 1665-1666.
In 1881, the painting resurfaced at an auction in The Hague, where it was bought for a negligible sum of two guilders (less than $1) by collector Arnoldus Andries des Tombe. Des Tombe's collection, which included works by old masters, was open to visitors at his home in The Hague. In 1902, on Des Tombe's death, the painting was donated to the Mauritshuis in The Hague, where it has hung ever since.
The painting has since travelled to Japan, Italy, and the United States during the Mauritshuis building's renovation in 2012, attracting crowds in each location. In 2014, the Mauritshuis announced that it would no longer lend out the painting, but made an exception in 2023 for a blockbuster exhibition devoted to Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
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The use of colour
Johannes Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring" is a masterpiece of colour and light. The painting depicts a young European woman wearing an exotic dress, an oriental turban, and a large pearl earring. The use of colour in the painting is striking and plays a crucial role in its overall impact and allure.
The colour palette of the painting is known to be diverse, with raw materials for the pigments sourced from various regions, including what are now Mexico, Central America, England, and possibly Asia or the West Indies. One of the most prominent colours in the painting is the vibrant blue of the girl's headscarf, which is created using ultramarine pigment made from the semi-precious stone lapis lazuli from Afghanistan. The use of this pigment is notable due to its high value in the 17th century, even more so than gold. The intensity of the blue colour may have been enhanced by heating the stone at a high temperature, making it easier to grind and producing a richer hue.
The background of the painting, originally thought to be a simple dark void, has been revealed through modern imaging techniques to be a green curtain. The green hue was achieved by applying a thin transparent glaze of indigo and weld over a black background, a technique that has since faded over time. This discovery adds depth and complexity to the composition, as the physical and chemical changes in the translucent green paint have altered the appearance of the background over the centuries.
The girl's jacket is also painted with the same ultramarine pigment as the headscarf, further emphasising the richness and vibrancy of the colour. The painting's subtle colour scheme, enhanced by its recent restoration, contributes to the intimacy of the girl's gaze and the overall allure of the artwork. The soft modelling of the girl's face showcases Vermeer's mastery of using light and shadow to create form, with the subtle glimmers on her lips and the shine of the pearl earring demonstrating his skill in capturing the effects of light on different surfaces.
The pearl itself, which measures approximately 5.5 centimetres in diameter, is another intriguing element of the painting. While initially believed to be an oversized pearl, experts now suggest it is more likely to be a glass or lacquered drop earring. The reflection of light on the pearl, or imitation pearl, adds to the sense of radiance and mystery surrounding the girl's identity.
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Frequently asked questions
The subject of the painting is unknown. It is believed that the girl was either a real model or a more generalized and mysterious woman, perhaps a Sibyl or biblical figure.
The painting is an oil painting on canvas. The raw materials for the colours came from all over the world, including regions that today belong to Mexico, Central America, England, Asia, and the West Indies.
The painting was created around 1665-66. It was likely sold by Vermeer's son-in-law and was lost for 200 years before being rediscovered and purchased by a collector for 2 guilders. It was donated to the Mauritshuis in The Hague in 1902, where it has remained since.
The painting is a tronie, a Dutch term for a character or type of person, rather than a portrait. It is known for its striking use of colour and light, with a black or dark green background that sets off the girl's luminous skin and the glistening pearl. The painting also has an intimate gaze and an enigmatic expression, adding to its allure.
