Elena Rossi
Johannes Vermeer's 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' is an oil painting dated c. 1665-1666. It is one of the Dutch Golden Age painter's most famous works, and has been housed in the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague since 1902. The painting depicts a young European girl wearing an exotic dress, an oriental turban, and a large pearl earring. The subject of the painting is unknown, and there is much speculation about her identity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist | Johannes Vermeer |
| Year | c. 1665-1666 |
| Medium | Oil paint on canvas |
| Current location | Mauritshuis museum, The Hague |
| Previous owners | Pieter Van Ruijven, Arnoldus Andries des Tombe |
| Literary adaptations | Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (1999) |
| Cinematic adaptations | Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003) |
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What You'll Learn
The painting's history and restoration
Johannes Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring is one of the most famous paintings in the world. Nicknamed the "Mona Lisa of the North," it is beginning to rival Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa masterpiece in terms of exposure. The painting has been in the collection of the Mauritshuis in The Hague since 1902 and has been the subject of various literary and cinematic treatments.
The painting, dated c. 1665, was not always so iconic. It is believed that Vermeer first painted it for a patron in 1665-66, but the work ended up being sold by the patron's son-in-law and was lost for 200 years. It resurfaced when a collector bought it for 2 guilders (less than $1) and discovered it was a Vermeer after cleaning. The painting changed hands a few times before it was donated to the Mauritshuis in 1902, where it has hung ever since.
The painting has undergone several restorations over the years. In 1881, it was treated by a restorer named Van de Haeghen, who lined the painting using a starch-based adhesive and likely consolidated the front with animal glue. In 1915, Derix de Wild 'regenerated' the upper layer of varnish without affecting earlier retouchings and then varnished the painting. The most recent restoration took place in 1994, and the painting was restored at the Mauritshuis in The Hague, Netherlands. This restoration was unique as it was one of the first times that a painting restoration treatment was done in front of the museum public. The subtle colour scheme and the intimacy of the girl's gaze toward the viewer were greatly enhanced. It was discovered that the dark background, now somewhat mottled, was originally a deep enamel-like green produced by applying a thin layer of glaze over the black background.
The painting has been examined and studied extensively, with scientists and conservators using advanced technologies to learn more about Vermeer's techniques and the materials he used. In 2014, Dutch astrophysicist Vincent Icke raised doubts about the material of the earring, arguing that it looked more like polished tin than pearl due to the specular reflection, the pear shape, and the large size.
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The identity of the girl
The painting is not a portrait, but a 'tronie'—a Dutch term for a character or type of person. This means that the painting depicts a certain type, in this case, a girl in exotic dress, wearing an oriental turban and a large pearl earring. It is possible that Vermeer created a more generalized and mysterious woman, perhaps a Sibyl from Greek mythology or a biblical figure.
Tracy Chevalier's 1999 novel, *Girl with a Pearl Earring*, fictionalized the circumstances of the painting's creation. In the novel, Vermeer becomes close to a servant who works as his assistant and sits for him as a model, wearing his wife's earrings. The novel was adapted into a 2003 film of the same name and a 2008 play.
The painting has also been the subject of other literary and cinematic treatments. One of the first literary treatments was Yann Lovelock's sestina, "Vermeer's Head of a Girl", which explores the interplay between imagined beauty interpreted on canvas and living experience. W. S. Di Piero reimagined how the "Girl with Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer" might look in the modern setting of Haight Street in San Francisco. In 1986, Marta Morazzoni published a collection of five short novellas set in the Baroque era, titled *La ragazza col turbante* (Girl with a Turban).
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The artist, Vermeer
Johannes Vermeer was a Dutch Golden Age painter who lived in the city of Delft during his lifetime. He was an art dealer and created 36 paintings, many of which depicted women in everyday settings. Vermeer's paintings are known for their calming, intimate, and almost banal scenes, a stark contrast to the Baroque style of his contemporaries.
Vermeer's most famous painting, "Girl with a Pearl Earring," was created around 1665-1666. The painting depicts a young woman in exotic dress, wearing an oriental turban and a large pearl earring. The work is a "tronie," a Dutch term for a character or type of person, rather than a portrait. The identity of the girl is unknown, and she may have been a real model or a more generalized figure, possibly representing a Sibyl or biblical character.
The painting has had a tumultuous history, having been lost for over 200 years after it was sold by Vermeer's patron. It resurfaced when a collector purchased it for a negligible sum in 1881, recognizing it as a Vermeer. Since 1902, it has been housed in the Mauritshuis in The Hague, where it remains a popular attraction.
Vermeer's work has inspired various literary and cinematic adaptations, including the novel "Girl with a Pearl Earring" by Tracy Chevalier, published in 1999, and its subsequent film adaptation in 2003.
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The painting's influence on pop culture
Johannes Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring" is one of his most well-known works. The painting has had a significant influence on popular culture, with references in books, films, advertisements, and other artworks.
One of the earliest examples of the painting's influence on popular culture is its appearance in literature. The painting inspired poems such as Yann Lovelock's "Vermeer’s Head of a Girl" and W. S. Di Piero's reimagining of the painting in a modern setting. In 1986, it was featured as the title of Marta Morazzoni's collection of five short novellas set in the Baroque era, "La ragazza col turbante" (Girl with a Turban).
However, the painting's most notable literary influence was Tracy Chevalier's 1999 novel, "Girl with a Pearl Earring". Chevalier's book, which has sold over five million copies worldwide, presents a fictional account of Vermeer, the girl in the painting, and the creation of the artwork. The novel was later adapted into a successful film in 2003, starring Scarlett Johansson as the titular character and Colin Firth as Vermeer.
In addition to literature and film, "Girl with a Pearl Earring" has also made its way into television and other artworks. The painting has been referenced in popular shows such as "The Simpsons", "Doctor Who", and "The Da Vinci Code." In 1985, Peruvian painter Herman Braun-Vega appropriated the work in his painting "Encuentro en la playa" (After Vermeer). In this allegory of cultural syncretism, the Dutch girl is accompanied by two young mixed-race girls on a beach, personifying the descendants of Europeans in Latin America.
The painting's iconic status has also led to its reproduction on various merchandise, including cushions, coasters, T-shirts, bags, socks, and suitcases. Its popularity has drawn crowds from Japan, Italy, and the United States when it travelled during the Mauritshuis building's renovation in 2012.
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The painting's literary and cinematic treatments
Literary Treatments
The painting has inspired several literary works, including poems and novels. Yann Lovelock's sestina, "Vermeer's Head of a Girl", explores the interplay between imagined beauty on canvas and living experience. W. S. Di Piero's work reimagines how the "Girl with Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer" might look in the modern setting of Haight Street in San Francisco. In her poem, Marilyn Chandler McEntyre comments on the girl's private, self-possessed personality.
In 1986, Marta Morazzoni published a collection of five short novellas set in the Baroque era, titled La ragazza col turbante (Girl with a Turban).
Tracy Chevalier's 1999 novel, Girl with a Pearl Earring, fictionalised the circumstances of the painting's creation. Set in 17th-century Delft, Holland, the novel centres on Vermeer, the girl in the painting, and the artwork itself. Chevalier's novel has sold over five million copies worldwide.
Other novels inspired by Vermeer or his era include Susan Vreeland's Girl in Hyacinth Blue, Katherine Webber's The Music Lesson, and Deborah Moggach's Tulip Fever.
Cinematic Treatments
The 2003 film Girl with a Pearl Earring, directed by Peter Webber, is based on Tracy Chevalier's novel. The film explores the imagined backstory of Vermeer and the painting's creation, with a pace and rhythm that mirror the slow and deliberate nature of oil painting.
The film centres on the relationship between Vermeer and his teenage maid, Griet, whom he uses as a model. It portrays Vermeer's desire for Griet, with several scenes showing him touching her hands and caressing her lips with his fingertips. However, their relationship remains unconsummated.
The film also highlights the financial pressures faced by Vermeer due to his lack of assiduousness in completing his artwork. Despite the small amount of overtly objectionable content, the film has been criticised for celebrating middle-aged lechery and embracing inappropriate relationships and lustful thoughts.
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Frequently asked questions
It was painted sometime between 1665 and 1666.
It was painted by Johannes Vermeer, a Dutch Golden Age painter.
The painting currently resides in the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague, Netherlands.
The identity of the girl is unknown. Some speculate that she was a servant or a member of Vermeer's household, while others suggest she was the daughter of Vermeer's patron, Pieter Van Ruijven.
The painting is renowned for its beauty and simplicity, with the girl's enigmatic expression and mysterious identity adding to its allure. The mastery of light and colour, as well as the intimacy of the girl's gaze, have captivated audiences for centuries.
