Art-Vermeer-Girl with a Pearl Earring TB03

Please drop this item in rural or Premium Member Only caches.  Do not drop it in an urban cache or leave it behind at a caching event.  Transport the bug in the original plastic bag for as long as the bag lasts; this prevents the chain and tag tangling with other items.  Otherwise, take this travel bug anywhere you wish.  No permission needed to leave the U.S.

This is one of a series of travel bugs made to recognize paintings seen, and admired by the bug owner. A digital copy of this painting was downloaded from the internet. The copy was reduced in size and proportions cropped to accommodate the laminating materials available to the owner. Regrettably these processes diminish the effort of the artist. One truly must see the original in person to fully appreciate the work. The text below is a mixture of my own observations and material gleaned from the internet (mostly Wikipedia and Web Gallery).

Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675) was a painter during the Dutch Golden Age, the 17th century. Prior to this time most patrons of the arts were the church and royalty who largely wanted portraits and paintings with religious or allegorical themes. After the Renaissance, northern Europe became a center of commerce and the middle classes prospered to the point that they wanted art to decorate their homes. And, they had broader tastes is subject matter than institutional patrons. To satisfy the demand, the Dutch and Flemish regions developed an amazing number of artists. Portraiture and religious topics were still important, but landscape, seascape, cityscape, still life and commemorative paintings began to appear. However, another kind of subject matter really flourished at this time, genre paintings. These were scenes from everyday life, depicting people from all classes.

This is my favorite art piece, for reasons I can’t completely explain. This was so before I ever saw the original. But then, I’m not alone as many art critics regard as equal to the Mona Lisa in the way it incites the imagination. One’s eyes are drawn to the large, tear-shaped pearl hanging from the girl's ear because it contrasts with the part of the neck in shadow. An observer might say there is nothing remarkable about the pose, the tilt of the head, the smile, the garments or the colors, but taken together, a wonderful effect is produced. This work was painted, and signed in 1665 but disappeared until 1882. The painting must have had a tortured history because it is in a very poor state of conservation and suffered from numerous extensive restorations. It is furthermore marred by an ugly pattern of cracks. Nevertheless, in a quiet room where contemplation is possible, it is difficult to look away from it. To see the painting under these conditions, one must be at the Mauritshuis in The Hague when the doors open then make your way to the top floor as quickly as you are able.