Why is Vermeer’s “Girl with the Pearl Earring” considered a masterpiece? – James Earle – TED-ed –
“James Earle explains how this work represents the birth of a modern perspective on economics, politics, and love.”
“In the seventeenth century, the city of Delft, like the Netherlands in general had turned against ruling aristocracy and the Catholic church. After eight decades of rebellion against Spanish power, the Dutch came to favour the idea of self-rule and a political republic.”
Girl with a pearl earring – Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girl_with_a_Pearl_Earring
“During the restoration, it was discovered that the dark background, today somewhat mottled, was initially intended by the painter to be a deep enamel-like green. This effect was produced by applying a thin transparent layer of paint, called a glaze, over the present-day black background. However, the two organic pigments of the green glaze, indigo and weld, have faded.“ Wikipedia
