"The Girl with a Pearl Earring" by Johannes Vermeer: Who is she and has she become too iconic?

Johannes Vermeer’s painting "Girl with a Pearl Earring": has it become too iconic? Why did he make it and is it really Vermeer's masterpiece? Who posed for the picture and is the pearl earring real or a fake? Author of the Essential Vermeer.com website Jonathan Janson gives his very personal take. *EXTRA RESOURCES* Essential Vermeer.com: http://www.essentialvermeer.com/ Learn more about the painting at the Essential Vermeer interactive catalog entry: http://www.essentialvermeer.com/catalogue/girl_with_a_pearl_earring.html Critical Assessments: http://www.essentialvermeer.com/cat_about/earring.html Related Works of Art: http://www.essentialvermeer.com/related_vermeer_paintings/earring.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/essentialvermeer/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Essential-Vermeer-133691276693957/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/essentialvermeer\ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): "It's That Time of the Year" - Pecan Pie https://uppbeat.io/t/pecan-pie/its-that-time-of-year License code: 4MSFASKLQHA9PMXE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:55 - Is she too iconic? 01:41 - The girl's spiritual "sister" 02:30 - Rediscovery & condition 03:37 - Who was the girl? How old is she? 04:24 - What does the painting mean? 05:15 - Was she Vermeer's daughter, Maria? 06:38 - The novel and film, Girl with a Pearl Earring. Better be careful! 08:42 - The painting is not a portrait: it's a tronie 11:02 - The big pearl (it's a fake!) 12:16 - Why did Vermeer paint Girl with a Pearl Earring? 12:51 - Is Girl with a Pearl Earring a masterpiece? 14:13 - Vermeer was a practical man 16:12 - Conclusion