Description

Girl with a Pearl Earring was originally titled Girl with a Turban. The girl in this painting is believed to be Vermeer’s eldest daughter Maria. With this painting the viewer is captured by the subject and believes they have caught her attention and caused her to turn her head. The turban being worn in Girl with a Pearl Earring was a popular prop at the time and demonstrates the influence of other countries as various slaves came to the Netherlands. Vermeer uses the Dutch custom of a dark background which allowed the artists to create a three-dimensional effect of the highlighted subject.