Girl With A Pearl Earring

1. What are your general impressions of the film?
Girl With a Pearl Earring was a very informative film regardless of the fact that it was not completely historically accurate. The film gave me a lot of insight into the painting techniques used by Vermeer and other artists in that time period. It was also interesting to see the artistic process that went into the paintings. Because I have read the book Girl With a Pearl Earring I immediately judge the film by its difference between the book.

2. How do certain scenes/ elements of the film exemplify what we’ve learned so far about the Northern Renaissance in the Low Countries?
Artists in the Low Countries during the Northern Renaissance used common everyday objects in their paintings. The scene in Girl with a Pearl Earring when Grete moves the chair out of the set in Vermeer’s studio captures how Vermeer used common every day objects in his paintings. Also, artists in the Low Countries used oil paint as the medium for their paintings. One of Grete’s daily tasks was to make oil paint for Vermeer.

3. Do any particular properties that we’ve discussed in conjunction with the art we’ve seen thus far jump out at you in the film? How and what effects do they have on the film and on your impression of Vermeer’s artwork?
Vermeer used the medium of oil painting to his advantage. Vermeer’s use of color was very bright and bold due to the oil paint. In Girl With a Pearl Earring, Grete wears a blue and yellow scarf which makes her presence in the painting very striking and it contrasts with the dark black background. The black background makes Grete stand out as the main focal point in the painting. Grete’s head scarf makes the person viewing the painting think and question what is underneath the scarf.