Girl with a Pearl Earring c1665 Johannes Vermeer

How do art works become famous? The quality of the painting itself – Vermeer is seen as one of the best artists of his time Another way is through scarcity – only 34 paintings have been authenticated as being by Vermeer Some art works, artists and periods have been written about frequently where others have not. What reasons might there be for this?

And in the case of this painting..

…a book and a film which focus on the work, contribute to its being so well known.

Paintings which share particular subject matter/style/purpose are often grouped. What groupings or categories of paintings can you think of?

What category might this painting fit into? What might be the purpose of this work? – Consider the title as a clue.

Could it be a portrait? What well-known portraits do you know? What are the characteristics of a portrait? Does this work fit them?

It is what is known as a ‘genre’ painting – in art, this would be of some phase of everyday life eg domestic interiors, village scenes etc

This, then, is a generic painting of a head, for the viewer’s delight. Such paintings often involve some theatricality – here, for example, the subject wears a turban-type headdress which would not have been the norm for a young Dutch girl whose headdress would have been much more modest and plain.

The subject makes eye-contact with the viewer. What effect does this create? Commentators have said there is a sense of ‘immediacy’ in this work. How is this created?

What effect does the dark background create? What direction does the light in the work come from? How can you tell? What effect does this directional type of lighting create? If it had been lit more brightly, how would the effect have changed?

What can you say about the way the paint has been applied (the brushwork) and the effect this creates? Note: the craquelure (network of fine cracks) is the result of shrinkage of paint and ground over time

Why do you think the painter has added the pearl earring?

A useful mnemonic for art analysis PC FILMS P - paint application/purpose C - colour F - form I - influences L - light/line M - medium/method S - space