She’s beautiful, mysterious and exotic, and she’s not afraid to look you straight in the eye.
Vermeer’s Girl With A Pearl Earring is often referred to as the Mona Lisa of the north and it’s not hard to see why. This short video from TEDED looks deeply into Vermeer’s amazing facility with perspective and lighting, techniques that established him as a true master.
Nothing is known about the model, but over the years she has inspired writers and movie makers to speculate on who she was, and how Vermeer came to paint her.
This short, animated presentation is a masterpiece in itself, so if you love this picture, or are interested in how and why it comes to be so arresting, take a look at the video.
When I design my simple book covers in Photoshop I struggle with these very same techniques, so I appreciate the lessons this amazing little video provides.
