The Girl with the Pearl Earring - Jan Vermeer (c. 1665) - Painting analysis | Masterpieces in 3 min.

The Girl with the Pearl Earring - Jan Vermeer
Oil on canvas, around 1665, 45x40 cm, Mauritshuis, The Hague
The oil painting The Girl with a Pearl Earring is probably the most famous work by the Dutch artist Jan Vermeer. It was painted around 1665 and is also known as the Mona Lisa of the North.
In the center is the portrait of a girl, with the face and shoulders of the left half of her body visible. Her face is friendly, her alert eyes are turned towards the viewer, her slightly wet mouth slightly open, as if she wants to say something. Whether she wants to look at us or turn away from us remains open, the moment of movement has been captured here.
The girl is wearing a dark yellow jacket with a white collar. This is complemented by a light blue turban on her head, from which a long light-colored scarf falls down to her upper back. This type of clothing reflects the interest in Oriental culture at the time after the Ottoman Wars, and in the 17th century the turban was a widespread accessory in Europe.
The natural and unagitated portrait contrasts with the shiny pearl earring, which gleams from the shadowy area of the neck by reflecting the incident light.
A further contrast is provided by the background of the picture, which appears neutral and very dark, but is not black due to its multicolored nature. The darkness emphasizes the girl's luminosity, making her pale skin appear even more delicate. Whether this painting is a typical portrait or a tronie, a typical art form in the Netherlands at the time, is not definitively clear. Although tronies have a portrait-like character, they play with light effects and shadows and often express emotions through posture and facial expressions.