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Anisha Rajpal

N/A

Seventh Grade

04 April 2023

Analysis of Girl with a Pearl Earring

Johannes Vermeer’s painting, the Girl with a Pearl Earring depicts a woman, possibly

looking at a mirror, wearing a noticeable pearl earring.

Additionally, created in the year 1665, the painting’s medium:

is oil paint, and its genre: is Tronie. Furthermore, a painting

ahead of its time, the Girl with a Pearl Earring revolutionized

the Golden Era and influenced a multitude of other famous

paintings. Conveying paintings of Christian morals and

dramatic grandeur, the Golden Era’s alluring and tonal style,

with blurs on minuscule details and an emphasis on delicacy

boasts multiple famous paintings, including The Girl with a Pearl Earring. Moreover, Vermeer’s

painting, the Girl with a Pearl Earring utilizes the Golden Era’s spotlight on the gospel’s

chastity and camera obscura to demonstrate a shift from dark to light, thus proving that serene

balance rises over impurity (3-5).

DESCRIPTION
First and foremost, the Girl with a Pearl Earring has a refreshingly straightforward structure.

Likewise, the painting’s sole depiction proves the plain head of a girl gazing over her shoulder at

the observer. With the exception of its atmospherically dark tone, no indication of a setting

proves given, adding to the mysterious allure that this painting conveys. Notwithstanding, this
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proves uncharacteristic of the mature Vermeer who mainly utilize sceneries as a background to

compliment the subject. In addition, the exceptionally close proximity of the subject to the

viewer and the slightly parted lips create an atmosphere of immediacy that suggests a high level

of intimacy. Accordingly, the girl's plain brownish-yellow top stands out sharply against her

bright white collar; her blue and yellow turban (or chaperon) adds yet another element of

contrast, creating a striking visual (“Girl with a Pearl Earring, Jan Vermeer: Interpretation,

Analysis” 1).

Camera Obscura. In addition, according to “Girl with a Pearl Earring, Jan Vermeer:

Interpretation, Analysis”, the tentative building up of elements illustrate a:

Sharp pattern of light and dark…[However] no sign of either line or a preliminary

drawing to guide the master to this perfection [of the painting]…[Accordingly] one art

critic has suggested that the sharply contrasting patterns of light and dark [proves as]…

Vermeer's direct transcription of the incidence of light as viewed (4).

Hence, the different angles of camera obscura diminish the preliminary style that most paintings

proved created by, rather uplifting sharp patterns of light and dark conflicting, thus putting a

pedestal on the teardrop earring which makes it more of the subject than the signature girl that

the painting has solely addressed.

Various Hidden and Uncovered Styles. Ordinarily, paintings prove styled according to the period

created in, however, the Girl with a Pearl Earring manifests as distinct from other paintings;

namely, containing a multitude of hidden and apparent styles throughout. For reference,

according to “The Work of Dutch Golden Age Painters”, the Girl with a Pearl Earring utilizes
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the Baroque style, “which emerges as most associated with grandeur, richness, drama,

movement, and tension” (2-3). Additionally, the article, “Girl with a Pearl Earring” by Alicja

Zelazko demonstrates that the Girl with a Pearl Earring contains a more alluring style by

illustrating the girl as “caught in a fleeting moment, she turns her head over her shoulder…

[observing the viewer or looking at a mirror] with her eyes wide and lips parted as if about to

speak…[The girl’s] enigmatic expression coupled with the mystery of her identity” (2 - 4).

Also, the Girl with a Pearl Earring manifests as painted with a tonal style due to her

color-coordinated clothing which proves to match the shift from light to dark throughout the

painting. Moreover, utilizing a multitude of styles, the Girl with a Pearl Earring demonstrates

through these multiple style shifts, chastity and delicacy through serene balance. Furthermore,

with these styles complimenting the artful camera obscura, the Girl with a Pearl Earring, who

seems quite intimate, proves, in a way, protected by her pearl earring to maintain a balance of

serenity, thus remaining pure.

Through this painting, Vermeer conveys the idea of purity and moral values, which prove

significant during this period. By depicting the subject in a respectful manner, Vermeer proves

able to emphasize the importance of respecting the moral values of the time and paying tribute to

the teachings of the Christian faith. Therefore, in this way, the Girl with a Pearl Earring conveys

Christian Morals and emphasizes the importance of chastity in the gospel, which reflect the

ideologies of the Dutch Golden Age.

THEORIES

Dark Gray vs Dark Green. Even when analyzing the Girl with a Pearl Earring, the setting tone seems

gray in color, however, with further experiments and data, one sees that a dark green shade coats the

painting and further emphasizes the camera obscura. For reference, instead of the dark gray tone
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demonstrating an obvious camera obscura, studies found that “technical examinations of the painting

have revealed that it has changed since Vermeer painted it…[Accordingly] The samples revealed that the

background manifested as constructed with a black underlayer followed by a dark green translucent glaze

layer” (Vandivere 3 - 4).

Therefore, not the seemingly dark gray tone that analysts often assume, the painting combines

black and dark green. Furthermore, this theory suggests that the painting has a captivating blend of two

unexpected colors which challenge the traditional evaluation of the artwork. For example, the contrast

between the black and dark green creates a sense of intrigue, immersing the audience into the painting in

order to discover the artist's true intention. Therefore, this rare juxtaposition of colors resonates with the

aspect of why the painting remains so popular today. Indeed, not only elevating the artwork but also

giving the audience a perspective of the artist's vision.

The True Subject. Ordinarily, most individuals believe that in the Girl with a Pearl Earring, the subject:

the girl in the middle. However, when analyzing the true foundations of morality the painting attempts to

convey, one understands the true subject: the pearl the girl wears (Delaney 1 - 3). Moreover, unlike the

girl in the painting, the pearl has an abstract meaning that describes what the painting signifies; bringing

the painter’s purpose to light. On the other hand, many believe that since the emphasis — specifically the

lighting and camera obscura - on the girl in the middle makes her the subject; however, the pearl earring

allows the audience to realize the purpose and theme of the painting. Nevertheless, many argue that the

pearl earring depends on the girl for the purpose of leaving an impact on the audience; in actuality, the

girl depends on the pearl earring to carry the painting’s artful purpose (Vandivere 2 - 7).

Furthermore, by symbolizing faith and purity — the fundamental theme of this painting, the pearl

earring demonstrates the gospel’s prowess of chaste intentions and godly devotion shun worldly pleasures

and immoral desires. Therefore, not just an essential adornment for the girl, the pearl earring also

integrates as a part of the piece, visually reminding the viewer of the Bible's values and ideals. Hence, a

symbol of faith and purity, the pearl earring's presence in the painting reminds the viewer of the Bible's
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values and ideals. Thus, an important part of the painting, the earring, helps to reinforce the theme of the

painting; by following the gospel, one rejects worldly pleasures and immoral desires; thus, living a life

without impurities.

Additionally, classified as a tronie, the painting depicts a girl with a turban wearing a pearl

earring; the painting mainly focuses on the earring because then the piece of art would classify as a

portrait and not a tronie. Hence, the pearl earring symbolizes purity, which essentially demonstrates the

girl's rejection of worldly pleasures and immoral desires; her commitment to living a life of virtue and

holiness. Furthermore, classified as a tronie, the painting focuses on the girl's earring, which serves as a

physical representation of the theme and helps to reinforce its message.

SYMBOLS

The Pearl Earring. Secondarily, the iconic pearl earring in the Girl with a Pearl Earring

symbolizes the gospel’s chastity against the girl’s intimate and ‘impure’ pose and expression. For

reference, the pearl bears an enormous shape compared to the girl’s ear which demonstrates the

Christian morality of not allowing impure or worldly pleasures to plague an individual’s sense of

self and their overall connection with God. Furthermore, proving this theory even more, the

detailed camera obscura brings a spotlight onto the earrings; the camera obscura also diminishes

the inherent impurity of the girl in the photo utilizing a shift from light to dark in the painting.

Therefore, the pearl earrings prove as a symbol of purity, grace, and connection with

God. Accordingly, a representation of innocence and strength, the girl in the painting, though

inherently lustful, maintains her purity even in the face of temptation. Hence, reinforcing the idea

that godly virtues overpower worldly temptations. Additionally, seen in many religions and

cultures, pearls represent spirituality and morality which results in a symbol of purity and

strength. Therefore, the pearl earrings act as a reminder of the power of faith, illustrating that a
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strong belief in God allows one to overcome any temptation and remain virtuous. Additionally,

the pearls’ spiritual significance symbolizes holiness and strength (Vandivere 3).

The Turban. Along with the pearl as a symbol, the turban emphasizes just decisions clothing an

individual from unjust decisions and dissolution. For reference, in the Bible, a turban serves as a

“ [clothing] in righteousness…enveloped…just decisions proves like…a turban (“Job 29-14” 1).

Moreover, painted in the Dutch Golden age where Christian morality spread like wildfire across

countries, the Girl with a Pearl Earring uses symbolism to describe these morals, such as the

pearl and the turban.

Therefore, emphasizing the gospel’s chastity even further, the Turban elevates the theory

that the woman who proves inherently intimate and lustful through her posing and expression,

maintains her righteousness by not giving into worldly pleasures. Additionally, the turban’s tonal

style exemplifies this theory further, by complimenting the pearl which proves as a symbol of

faith and prosperity, thus adding to the overall chastity of this painting.

Moreover, the turban exemplifies how this painting acts as a reminder for individuals to

stay strong in their faith and resist any worldly temptations that lead them astray. Furthermore,

by wearing the turban, the woman in the painting proves to symbolically protect her purity, with

the Pearl as a reminder of her promise to uphold her faith. Hence, the pearl with the turban

symbolizes one's devotion to God and faith, while the colors of the Turban represent one's

commitment to remain steadfast in their beliefs and not manifest as swayed by worldly

temptations. For example, the blue of the turban symbolizes the woman's faithfulness to the

divine and the pearl symbolizes her commitment to remain devoted to her spiritual journey.
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Thus, the woman in the painting demonstrates her commitment to her faith and values; the

turban, pearl, and colors all working together to emphasize her devotion.

CONCLUSION
Through the use of multiple styles, textures, tones, symbolism and inherent Christian morality,
Vermeer conveys how one must stray away from intimate worldly pleasures and devote themself
to God to face true enlightenment. Furthermore, the symbolism of the Girl with a Pearl Earring
represents faith and purity allowing the inherently intimate girl to devote herself to god and live
her life with enlightenment. As quoted from the gospel:
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of
the Father emerges as not in him. For all that emerges as in the world—the lust of the
flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but emerges as of the
world. And the world emerges as passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the
will of God abides forever (John 2:15 - 17).
Thus, demonstrating this value, the Girl with a Pearl Earring acts as a reminder of the power of

faith, illustrating that a strong belief in God allows one to overcome any temptation and remain

virtuous. Likewise, this painting proves beneficial in modern society as it exhibits how even

through countless desires and temptations, one has the power to persevere and achieve greatness.
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Works Cited

Alicja Zelazko. “Girl with a Pearl Earring | History & Facts.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 2 Oct.

2017, www.britannica.com/topic/Girl-with-a-Pearl-Earring-by-Vermeer. Accessed 14

Apr. 2023.

Alicja Zelazko’s article, “Girl with a Pearl Earring | History & Facts” spotlights

the enigmatic expressions of the Girl with a Pearl Earring with a purposefully intimate

facial expression that conveys the theme of one must not allow worldly pleasure and

desire to drown out their devotion to god and overall enlightenment. For reference,

demonstrating the inherently intimate posture of the girl, her eyes “caught in a fleeting

moment…[the girl in the painting] turns her head over her shoulder…her eyes wide and

lips parted…[an] enigmatic expression” (3). Therefore, demonstrating how the girl in the

painting's expression conveys a sense of anticipation, desire, and temptation through her

enigmatic facial structure and her lustful posing, seen turning her body away from the

viewer, the girl's head, turned in the opposite direction, draws attention to her neck and

exposes the details of her face; often seen in romantic artwork, this pose illustrates the

idea of desire and lust. By so doing, the painting evokes feelings longing, further
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underscoring the girl's lust and how her faith shuns away any execution of desire and

maintains her enlightenment to god as symbolized by the pearl and the turban.

Delaney, John K., et al. “Mapping the Pigment Distribution of Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl

Earring.” Heritage Science, vol. 8, no. 1, 7 Jan. 2020,

www.researchgate.net/journal/Heritage-Science-2050-7445/publication/

338424114_Mapping_the_pigment_distribution_of_Vermeer’s_Girl_with_a_Pearl_Earri

ng/links/5fc476af92851c933f76e79e/Mapping-the-pigment-distribution-of-Vermeers-

Girl-with-a-Pearl-Earring.pdf, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-019-0348-9. Accessed 14

Apr. 2023.

John K. Delaney’s research article, “Mapping the Pigment Distribution of

Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring” emphasizes the tonal style of the turban

which underscores the camera obscura. For example, demonstrating a tonal style,

the girl’s:

“headscarf manifested as assumed…ultramarine, since…extensively used

ultramarine in…recovered three reflectance endmember spectra that

defined the blue headscarf…each endmember has a reflectance peak in the

blue (468–480 nm)…indicative of ultramarine” (15).

Furthermore, conveying a tonal style, the turban uses an extensive amount of

ultramarine; many findings found three distinct reflectance endmember spectra,

all of which peaked in the blue range, indicating ultramarine as the source.

Therefore, the tonal style adds to the camera obscura which utilizes a shift from

light to dark, thus underscoring the turban. By using ultramarine, the turban

proves able to create a visual progression from light to dark, a style that
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emphasizes the camera obscura; proving unique in the way it uses ultramarine to

create a gradual shift from light to dark, emphasizing the form and structure of the

turban.

“Discover the Work of the Dutch Golden Age Painters.” Google Arts & Culture, Google, 13 Feb.

2021, artsandculture.google.com/story/discover-the-work-of-the-dutch-golden-age-

painters/HgURuPe2Fz5CIw?hl=en. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.

According to “Discover the Work of the Dutch Golden Age Painters”, paintings

prove often fashioned to reflect the era in which they prove created, but The Girl with a

Pearl Earring stands out from other works of art by containing a variety of hidden and

overt styles, especially the Baroque style. For context, "The Work of Dutch Golden Age

Painters" states that the Baroque style emerges as used in the Girl with a Pearl Earring,

"which emerges as most associated with grandeur, richness, drama, movement, and

tension" (2–3).

Additionally, the Girl with a Pearl Earring exhibits chastity and delicacy through

peaceful balance by utilizing a variety of styles. The Girl with a Pearl Earring, who

appears rather intimate and emerges as somewhat sheltered by her pearl earring to

achieve a balance of serenity, remains pure as a result of these styles complementing the

camera obscura.

“Girl with a Pearl Earring, Jan Vermeer: Interpretation, Analysis.” Visual-Arts-Cork.com, Visual

Arts Cork, 2019, www.visual-arts-cork.com/famous-paintings/girl-with-pearl-

earring.htm. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023

“Girl with a Pearl Earring, Jan Vermeer: Interpretation, Analysis” artfully

demonstrates the various camera obscura angles that elevate the sharp patterns of
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light and dark conflict, and placing a pedestal on the teardrop earring, making it

more of the subject than the iconic girl that the painting has only addressed. For

instance, the haphazard assembly of components shows a: sharp pattern of light

and dark; there proves no indication of a line or a rough drawing to have led the

artist to this level of perfection. Accordingly, one art critic argued that Vermeer's

direct transcription of the incidence of light as seen in the starkly contrasting

patterns of light and dark (4). Therefore, the various camera obscura angles lessen

the initial style that most paintings appear as created by, elevating sharp patterns

of light and dark conflict, and placing a pedestal on the teardrop earring, making it

more of the subject than the iconic girl that the painting has only addressed.

Vandivere, Abbie, et al. “Fading into the Background: The Dark Space Surrounding Vermeer’s

Girl with a Pearl Earring.” Heritage Science, vol. 7, no. 1, 16 Sept. 2019, pp. 1–7.

Heritage Science, heritagesciencejournal.springeropen.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s40494-

019-0311-9.pdf?pdf=button%20sticky, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-019-0311-9.

Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.

According to Abbie Vandivere’s article, “Fading into the Background: The Dark

Space Surrounding Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring”, ‌Even while analyzing

The Girl with a Pearl Earring, the background color appears gray; nevertheless,

with additional research and data, it becomes clear that the painting emerges as

covered in a strong green hue that emphasizes the camera obscura even more. For

comparison, investigations discovered that "technical examinations of the painting

have revealed that it has changed since Vermeer painted it... " rather than the dark

gray tone suggesting an obvious camera obscura.Accordingly, the samples

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showed that the backdrop manifested as made of a dark green translucent glaze

layer over a black underlayer (Vandivere 3–4). Consequently, the artwork blends

black and dark green rather than the apparent dark gray tone that analysts

frequently presume. Additionally, according to this hypothesis, the picture

features a compelling combination of two unexpected colors. Indeed, enhancing

the artwork and presenting the audience with the artist's perspective.