• Home
  • Programs
    • Classes
    • Graphic Design – BAS
    • Graphic Design Technology – AS
    • Art – AA
    • Photography – AS
    • Photography – CT
  • Scholarships
  • News
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Gallery
    • Gallery Home
    • Current Exhibitions
    • Past Exhibitions
    • About the Switzer Gallery – Lamar Studio
    • Permanent Collections
      • The Malt Collection
      • The Rundqist Collection
      • The Student Collection
      • The Distinguished Artist Collection

Girl with a Pearl Earring

About | Exhibitions | Collections | Join & Support | Visit | Visual Arts
Visual Arts
Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts
Visual ArtsVisual Arts
  • Browse by Artist
  • Browse by Artwork
  • Browse by Collection
  • Exhibitions
    • Current Exhibitions
    • Past Exhibitions

Girl with a Pearl Earring


Artist: Johannes Vermeer

Date: 1665

Category: Painting

Medium: Vinyl reproduction of original (oil on canvas)

In Collection: Outdoor Gallery Collection


“Girl with a Pearl Earring” was originally titled “Girl with a Turban” and it wasn’t until the second half of the 20th Century that the name was changed. Regarded as Johannes Vermeer’s masterpiece, this canvas is often referred to as the Mona Lisa of the North or the Dutch Mona Lisa.

The girl in this painting is believed to be Vermeer’s eldest daughter, Maria, who was about 12 or 13-years-old at the time it was created. Her facial features appear in several of Vermeer’s works but his various techniques on his subject make it difficult to compare the female faces in his paintings, as the women are portrayed in different lighting conditions and poses.

There is very little information about Vermeer and his paintings. “Girl with a Pearl Earring” is signed “IVMeer” but there is no date on this work. It remains unknown whether or not this canvas was commissioned and if so, by whom. It’s more likely that this image was a “tronie,” the Dutch 17th-Century description of a ‘head’ painting that was not intended as a portrait.

“Girl with a Pearl Earring” is one of more than 40 images of women created by Vermeer and thus it is obvious that he had a keen interest in women’s socio-cultural roles. It could be argued that he valued their role in maintaining his idealist way of life by ensuring order within the household and raising children within Christian values. Therefore, women played a pivotal role in safeguarding tradition and moral values through the generations.

Vermeer depicted his women in thought-provoking stillness and also as encouraging images that inspired homogeny.

With this painting, the viewer is captured by the subject and believes he or she has caught the girl’s attention and caused her to turn her head. This is a sensual painting with the girl gazing at the viewer with wide eyes and a parted mouth and there is an air of mystery surrounding her identity.

In 1994 this canvas was restored which involved removing the yellowed varnish along with the retouches that had been made during previous restorations. This resulted in the vivid colors originally used by Vermeer shining through, and the intimacy of the girl’s gaze was also greatly enhanced.

Clothing:
The turban being worn in “Girl with a Pearl Earring” was a popular prop at the time and its elaborate folds and rich materials were a great way of showing off the artists’ skill. The turban also demonstrates the influence of other countries as various slaves came to the Netherlands and explorers would bring back new exotic artifacts and inventions.






You May Also Like


decorative image of Monument-to-Leonardo-b ,   2016-02-08 08:31:02
WRAPPED MONUMENT TO LEONARDO; B; Ed. 692/999
decorative image of DSC_0767 , CHAOS 2017-10-30 11:09:45
CHAOS
decorative image of 2016Honors_Gandaff-KCarff , GANDALF 2017-10-30 10:40:19
GANDALF
decorative image of Loxahatchee-River-2 , LOXAHATCHEE RIVER #2 2017-10-30 10:24:05
LOXAHATCHEE RIVER #2
decorative image of DSC_1713 , UNTITLED 2017-10-30 11:58:04
UNTITLED
decorative image of DSC_3218 ,   2016-08-16 08:49:05
FORMATION of TROPICAL STORM ALBERTO

Programming/Degrees:

Schedule of Classes
Art – Associate of Arts (AA)
Graphic Design – Associate in Sciences (AS)
Graphic Design – Dr. Marjan Mazza Bachelor of Applied Science in Bussiness and Management (GRPH-BAS)
Photography – Associate of Sciences (AS)
Photography – Associate in Sciences in Photographic Technology (PHOTO-CT)

Contact Information:

Pensacola State College – Visual Arts Department
Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts
1000 College Blvd., Bldg. 15
Pensacola, FL 32504

Ph: 850-484-2550
Fax: 850-484-2564

Map:

Navigation:
  • Home
  • Programs
    • Classes
    • Graphic Design – BAS
    • Graphic Design Technology – AS
    • Art – AA
    • Photography – AS
    • Photography – CT
  • Scholarships
  • News
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Gallery
    • Gallery Home
    • Current Exhibitions
    • Past Exhibitions
    • About the Switzer Gallery – Lamar Studio
    • Permanent Collections
      • The Malt Collection
      • The Rundqist Collection
      • The Student Collection
      • The Distinguished Artist Collection

Pensacola State College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate and associate degrees and certificates. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation status of Pensacola State College or if there is evidence that appears to support Pensacola State College’s significant non-compliance with a requirement or standard. -- Pensacola State College does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, color, gender/sex, age, religion, marital status, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetic information in its educational programs, activities, or employment. For inquiries regarding Title IX and the College’s nondiscrimination policies, contact the Executive Director, Institutional Equity and Student Conduct at (850) 484-1759, Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd., Pensacola, Florida 32504.

Go to Top