Baroque Blog

 


Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring is an oil on canvas painting thought to have been painted in 1665 in Delft. 

I think this painting is a good example of tenebrism, as her face and upper torso are highlighted, and the background is dark and obscuring. There is a lot of shadowing, and it looks like the light is angled at the left side of her face. The colors are quite dull but still do the job of catching your eye. Her expression fills me with curiosity. What emotion is she trying to express? I think that everyone could interpret that differently. 

During this time, wealth was coming to merchants, which led to the desire to collect and have paintings, artwork, and personal portraits. The wealth also influenced them to want to show off their prosperity, as having their own portrait painted was a symbol of wealth. Portraits were more popular than ever in this era.

This particular painting is somewhat unusual for this era, as paintings and portraits are usually littered with wealthy items, even including foreign goods. As for this one, we can see that the background is a solid color, putting the full focus on the girl. 

I don't know if I would personally own a copy of this painting, just because I dont think I would ever have a place to actually put it in my current house, but maybe in the future. 


Works Cited

Telayna. “The Rise of the Merchant Class, and Its Influence for Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring.” Tgordonart, 7 Oct. 2014, tgordonart.wordpress.com/2014/10/05/the-rise-of-the-merchant-class-and-its-influence-for-vermeers-girl-with-a-pearl-earring/

Zelazko, Alicja. “Girl with a Pearl Earring.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 26 Feb. 2024, www.britannica.com/topic/Girl-with-a-Pearl-Earring-by-Vermeer 

Comments

  1. CaraJoMarch 5, 2024 at 9:44 PM

    I like that you chose this piece; I am drawn to the clear complexion and immediately to the negative space. The eyes catch the light they are meant to catch, and so does the jewelry she is wearing. The blue provides a crisp and clean feel, while the tan draws warmth into the painting. The young woman's gaze in the painting is of innocence a great deal, and her open mouth feels like she is wondering what to say next. My favorite space is the use of the negative space and the crisp and clean feel it gives me.

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