The girl with the pearl earring was a famous painting by Johannes Vermeer, a Dutch painter who painted many beautiful masterpieces. The painting’s name varied throughout the years but finally, it was settled according to the large pearl earring that the girl wore in the painting. In 2006, it became known as the most beautiful painting in the Netherlands. The painting was originally painted in Mauritshuis, The Netherlands. It is signed with "IVMeer" but there has been no trace of a date. It is assumed to have been painted around 1665. The girl with the pearl earring has been specified as Griet, a Dutch girl who was once a maid in Johannes Vermeer’s home.
During 1665, there was a Dutch Golden Age. There were many different styles of art but most commonly paintings of real people. Those paintings were very realistic as if you could see the person being painted in real life. The Girl with the Pearl Earring was a tronie, a Dutch description of a person with a strange facial expression and unique costume.
The painting is very lively and lifelike, as many paintings at that time were. This one though is unique in its own way. The girl has a golden jacket, a blue turban, and most commonly noticed a particularly large pearl earring. The colors match those others wore but also distinct because the outfit is very peculiar for that time as most women wore elaborate dresses and lace cuffs with fine jewelry. The light in the painting reflects differently on her skin, lips, and the pearl making her seem as if she was a real person. The pearl shiny with a dazzling light stands out and is clearly seen around the dark background and the girl’s tilted head. Although the painting seems simple, it has very complex meanings. Her mysterious smile urges people to figure out whether she is happy or sad. Just like the Mona Lisa, we never will know what her expression means. That’s what many admirers of the painting like. They could figure out a new idea each time they see the painting and wonder whether it was even close to the right answer.
The girl with the pearl earring was only properly named in the twentieth century. Before, its title ranged from “portrait in an antique costume” to “Girl with a pearl”. Eventually, the painting was named “ The Girl With The Pearl Earring” because the pearl pops out in the painting , shining in the painting’s dark background.
The girl with a pearl earring still is displayed in the Mauritshuis museum. If you get the chance, you should definitely go and see it. See the girl’s expression and the beauty in the painting. The detail in her clothes and her special pearl earring is also not to be forgotten. The painting seems very simple but beautiful, with mysteries that still cannot be solved. The painting is named mostly after the pearl because it stands out like a star in the dark night.
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