NAVEED, ZARMINA KHAN N.

05/09/2022
IR257 ART APPRECIATION

Midterm Requirement for Art Appreciation

Artwork Analysis: Semiotic Plane

OPTION A: TERM PAPER
A. Baroque

• Name of the artist: Jan Vermeer

• Title of the work: Girl with a Pearl Earring
• Year the work was created: 1665
• Dimension or size: 44 cm x 39 cm
• Medium or technique: oil painting on canvas
• Location of the work: The Hague
• Whose collection or gallery where this work is located: Mauritshuis (1902)
 The painting that I chose is “Girl with a Pearl Earring” painted by Jan Vermeer. It is one
of the most famous Baroque paintings. Jan Vermeer is a 17th century Dutch painter who is
much less known in his day back then until the end of 19th century. He specialized in domestic
interior scenes in an average class of life. Yellow, blue, and grey color pigments, cold light, a
marvelously tranquil feeling of harmony, order, characterize these images.
The young lady in the portrait painting has a simple composition. The subject in the
painting is a head that overlook her shoulder at the painter. Apart from the sonically dark tone,
there is little indication of a setting. Her head is painted on a black background, emphasizing
the colors in her features and clothing. She appears to be of European ancestry, which makes
sense given that the artist is Dutch. Her attention is riveted on us, or whatever exists beyond
that now, or something existed before us. Her stare, however, is not harsh but gentle, as when
she might turn away in an instant when you look at the young lady. She's dressed in brown,
possibly an overcoat. It wraps both neck and shoulders, as well as the shirt she wears beneath
gives a sophisticated touch to her ensemble. The brown, on the other hand, is a plain, timber
brown, which says she comes from a average class family. Her hairstyle is completely covered
by a light yellow and starry blue headwear covering her hair. The brows are just far too pale
and blend in with the young lady's light pale skin. She is dressed in natural colors, implying
that she is sensible, realistic or responsible. you can see in the portrait that you lading is
wearing her pearl earring. Even so, it's stated in the artwork's title, which is typically the next
thing you'll notice.
What is the significance of her wearing pearl earring? Maybe because we hardly see the
other side of her ear, and hence this is our perception of her figure? Vermeer may be implying
how reality is socially constructed, and therefore what perspective we perceive of the young
lady should be what is realistic to us, regardless of they mentioned that she is wearing it. The
design of the earring suggests a status in the society to me perhaps she is of a upper social
status but prefers to live humble and simply. Another intriguing feature of her earring is its
position. It appears to be dangling around her ear, not linked to her. It alludes to some kind of
grief, some kind of liberation linked by the borders of suffering.

References:
Zelazko, A. (2020, May 29). Girl with a Pearl Earring. Encyclopedia Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Girl-with-a-Pearl-Earring-by-Vermeer
FORMAL ANALYSIS OF “GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING” // DINA RASHID. (2017,
August 9). ‫األقالم‬ ‫جفت‬. Retrieved May 9, 2022, from
http://www.jaffatelaqlam.com/posts/2014/6/24/formal-analysis-of-girl-with-a-pearl-earring-dina-
rashid#:%7E:text=The%20Analysis%20of%20Girl%20with,her%20face%20and%20her%20clot
hes.
Girl with a Pearl Earring, Jan Vermeer: Interpretation, Analysis. (n.d.). Http://Www.Visual-Arts-
Cork.Com/Famous-Paintings/Girl-with-Pearl-Earring.Htm. Retrieved May 9, 2022, from
http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/famous-paintings/girl-with-pearl-earring.htm