Girl with a Pearl Earring is an oil painting by Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer in 1665, Vermeer created only 36 works during his lifetime, and this is one of his most famous works, often referred to as the "Mona Lisa of the North" or the "Mona Lisa of the Netherlands".
In the work, a young girl wearing an exotic headscarf turns her head to stare at the viewer. Her captivating eyes and slightly open mouth give a strong sense of presence, and her pure and infectious clothing gives her a lasting quality that is not limited by time and space.
Girl wearing pearl earrings
The identity of the girl in the painting has been the focus of controversy among historians, and she is widely believed to be Vermeer's eldest daughter, Maria Vermeer, who was 13 years old at the time. However, it is also believed to be Vermeer's mistress.
Some scholars even believe that the painting does not have a specific figure. Emily Goldenker, director of the Mauritz House Museum, said: "Just as Rubens (28 June 1577 – 30 May 1640, Flemish painter) painted many figures like his wife, the girl may not be a specific person, but a universal, eternal and mystical figure – perhaps a prophet or a biblical figure." ”
In addition, the novel "Girl with a Pearl Earring" (adapted into the film of the same name starring Scarlett Johansson in 2003) by American writer Tracy Chevrolet tells a 17th-century love story in which the fictional claim that the person in the painting is Vermeer's maid.
But, Tracy said, "The painting is fascinating because she doesn't have an answer." You can never know what she's thinking. If everything is answered, you move on to the next painting. But that's not the case, you still go back again and again, trying to solve the mystery, and maybe never even be able to do it. ”
A still from the movie "The Girl with a Pearl Earring".
It is this mystery that makes Vermeer's priceless treasure so appealing. The work can be admired at the Royal Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague, Netherlands.
Multispectral infrared reflective photography reveals the underlying layers that Vermeer used to plan his paintings.