Monday, June 21

Pearls in Art: Girl with a Pearl Earring

One of the most famous paintings featuring pearl jewellery has been created in 1665 by Johannes Vermeer. It is sometimes referred to as the “Mona Lisa of the North”. Why the paining of an unknown girl has been so captivating to generations of art lovers?



It is probably because the girl is drawing the viewer into the scene as she looks over her shoulder hoping to see who is standing behind her. The capturing of this brief moment, where the girl fixed her eyes on us, gently gaping her sensual lips, is masterfully accentuated by small but significant play of light, be it her shiny eyes, glossy lips, or the shimmery pearl…

The pearl, a few brush strokes, is the focal point of the paining. It accentuates the movement of the girl’s head and evokes the evanescence of the captured moment.  

The painting can be viewed in Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis in The Hague. A more scientific interpretation of the painting can be found here.

Sources: Wikipedia and Maurithuis

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