Pearl Earring

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The Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer, can be considered one of the many loved paintings in this world. This is an oil painting of a girl with her head turned towards the viewer. She has an electrifying gaze that is fixed at the viewer or perhaps at something beyond the viewer. Vermeer painted a masterpiece with this painting, as it can have so many different interpretations. There is so much wonder and curiosity surrounding this painting. The subject of this painting is just a girl. Vermeer used three distinct elements of color, light, and brushstroke. By using these elements Vermeer’s depiction of the girl is very captivating. With the use of these elements we are able to understand what this piece is about and its subject matter. …show more content…

That is what Vermeer was able to do in The Girl with a Pearl Earring. In this painting, he uses the element of light to direct the viewers to the focal point of this piece- the pearl earring. The neck area is shaded and hidden from the light which intensifies the brightness of the pearl earring itself. The light of the girl’s undershirt also helps direct the viewer to the earring. “As a portrait, Vermeer effectively used light on the face of the girl to show the light source and our attention is drawn to this light where the face and pearl stand out against the darkness of the background” (hollyheartandsoul.blogspot.com). If the background was white, the girl and the pearl earring would not stand out quite as much. One of the most unique parts of this image is the girl’s face. The look on her face is critical to how the viewer will analyze the message that is being communicated from this painting. Though, it’s not just the look on her face, it is also the light and brightness that is cast on her face. “The left angled light helps to enhance the depth of colors and realistic features of the face” The light on her face makes her eyes and lips very intriguing. With Vermeer’s use of light, I believe he uses movement as well. The girl’s head is turned which could indicate that she is looking at the viewer and inviting them to see what is in front of