Girl with a Pearl Earring
The artist
Johannes Vermeer, a Dutch painter loved for his calm, glowing scenes filled with soft daylight.
What you see
A young girl turns to look back over her shoulder, wearing a blue and gold headscarf and a shining pearl earring.
The story
Painted around 1665, it is not a portrait of a real known person but an imagined face, like a beautiful daydream.
The style
Vermeer used soft light and smooth colors so her skin looks gentle and her scarf seems to shimmer.
Look closer
Look at the pearl earring: it is really just a few dabs of white paint, but it seems to sparkle with light.
Where to see it
You can see her at the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague, in the Netherlands.
Fun fact
People sometimes call her the Dutch Mona Lisa because her gentle gaze feels so alive and full of wonder.