Gaby
Every year, throngs of visitors flock to the Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague, Netherlands, to admire the masterpiece of Jan Vermeer. Now, art enthusiasts have the chance to become co-creators of this iconic work. The museum has invited the public to unleash their creativity and craft unique versions of the painting “Girl with a Pearl Earring,” as reported by Designboom.
This iconic canvas was painted by the Dutch artist Jan Vermeer during the Golden Age around 1665. The Mauritshuis has housed the artwork since 1902. Currently, the painting is embarking on a touring journey that will last until June. According to the museum curators, the masterpiece’s spot should not remain empty during this time.
To that end, they launched an original initiative—inviting professional artists and amateur painters to reinterpret the famous painting in their own style. This isn’t about creating copies of the portrait; it’s about offering a unique interpretation. Museum staff encouraged artists to let their imaginations run wild and not shy away from surprising elements. “Unexpected colors, bold patterns and shapes, diverse materials and techniques are all welcome,” the creators of the idea stated in their appeal. Variations of the painting are already being submitted to the Mauritshuis through an online form. The works will be available for viewing on the museum’s Instagram page (#mygirlwithapearl) and on the Mauritshuis website.
Next month, a digital frame will appear on the wall where “Girl with a Pearl Earring” is usually displayed. Here, selected creative works from numerous participants who accepted the museum’s challenge will be showcased.
What You Should Know About the Painting
The painting “Girl with a Pearl Earring” (Dutch: Het meisje met de parel) was created by Jan Vermeer (1632-1675) during the so-called Golden Age of the Netherlands. This period in the country’s history spans much of the 17th century and marks the peak of Dutch art, science, and trade.
Interestingly, the portrait bears Vermeer’s signature (IVMeer) but is not dated. Experts later established an approximate date for the creation of the canvas.
It remains unclear who commissioned the painting or who posed for it. One of the most popular theories suggests that it depicts the artist’s daughter, Maria. However, there are other speculations. Some art historians believe that the model was the daughter of Vermeer’s patron, Pieter van Ruijven.
The most discerning art critics consider this canvas not a full-fledged portrait but rather a variation of it: a head study that Dutch artists of the Golden Age referred to as tronie (“head”).
The painting was passed to the Mauritshuis by a certain A. A. des Tombes, who purchased it at auction in 1881 in a very dilapidated condition. Since the early 20th century, the canvas has undergone several restorations, with the most skillful being the restoration in 1994.
The image on the canvas is sometimes referred to as the northern or Dutch Mona Lisa. Time and again, this painting, like many other masterpieces of world art, has been the target of barbaric attacks. In October of last year, a trio of eco-activists poured tomato soup on Vermeer’s canvas. The organizers of the performance compared the outrage over the destruction of the planet to the feeling of ruining something beautiful, like this painting. Fortunately, the canvas remained unharmed as it was protected by glass.
This painting is incredibly popular, not only among art connoisseurs. It has repeatedly become the “star” of films. The movie “Girl with a Pearl Earring,” directed by Peter Webber and based on the novel by Tracy Chevalier, is entirely dedicated to the story of the portrait and the biography of its creator. According to the author’s loose interpretation, the painting depicts a maid named Griet. The biopic is memorable for the depth of the characters brought to life on screen by Scarlett Johansson and Colin Firth.
