The Girl With A Pearl Earring -

A 1994 restoration revealed the subtle highlights on the girl's lips and the deep green glaze that originally covered the dark background. Cultural Impact

The girl looks over her shoulder, meeting the viewer's eyes with an intimate, open-mouthed expression. the girl with a pearl earring

The "pearl" is impossibly large and likely made of polished glass or silver, rendered with just two strokes of white paint. A 1994 restoration revealed the subtle highlights on

Vermeer used expensive ultramarine (ground lapis lazuli) for the turban, creating a vivid contrast against the dark background. Historical Context the girl with a pearl earring

Her headwear is exotic for 17th-century Holland, emphasizing the painting's role as a creative character study.

Tracy Chevalier’s 1999 historical novel imagined a fictional backstory for the girl as a servant named Griet.