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I decided to watch "Girl With A Pearl Earring" today and as soon as the movie ended, I went over to my computer to do some research on Johannes Vermeer and his masterpiece. I learned that this painting of Vermeer raises some questions of it's own as well, much similar to the Mona Lisa, which we have taken up in class. I read that very little is actually know about Vermeer. There are no confirmed images of the artist and there are only 35 of his paintings known to exist. This was because he only painted about two or three a year.
Moving on, after watching the movie, I felt a sense of longing inside, as if I really HAD to learn more about this painting of Vermeer's since the movie of course, is fictional. It was from a book by Tracy Chevalier.
It was interesting how the author, Tracy Chevalier came up with the idea of writing a book inspired by the painting of Vermeer. I suppose not so many attempt to answer the mysteries of the universe through such means. Technology does not have all the answers to life's questions after all.
I think the author did a pretty good job with the novel. I haven't read it yet, but she was able to make the painting more real and meaningful to hundreds of other people; myself included. Before seeing the movie, I knew nothing about this painting of Vermeer. Just the fact that it was a painting.
But after seeing the movie, I was moved. Moved enough to do my own research, to really delve deep into the mysteries surrounding it as well as the painter.
This got me thinking: maybe life's mysteries are better left unsolved. In this way, we can make up our own answers, answers that hold more meaning for us, that have more significance. I know it sounds silly, but maybe the real story behind the painting is dull and void of any emotion. The artist may have just decided to paint one day and so, was able to come with a beautiful painting. I'm not saying the painting is dull and void of all emotion, but the story is different from the painting itself and the painting is beautiful.
Let's say the story behind it is dull. Quite frankly, I would rather not have the real answers to the questions of this painting. I would rather have a thousand wonderful theories that propose all sorts of answers from the crazy to just plain unreal. I think that painting is given more life that way.
Just like the Mona Lisa, it really is the mysteries that make Vermeer's 'Girl With A Pearl Earring' the masterpiece that it is today.
Sources:
http://www.tchevalier.com/gwape/vermeer/index.html
http://girl-with-a-pearl-earring.20m.com/
http://homepages.tesco.net/ian.cox99/Vermeer%20-%20Girl%20with%20a%20Pearl%20Earring%20(1665).jpg
1:05 PM