Where Arts Collide – Movies About Artists – “Girl With A Pearl Earring”
Monday, May 9, 2016 at 8:00AM What About Art? will be presenting monthly posts that discuss movies made about artists. Our goal will be to offer up our own review of each film—and to separate the facts from the fiction.
“Girl With A Pearl Earring” - Theatrical Release Poster (click photo for larger image)First up is “Girl With A Pearl Earring” (2003), directed by Peter Weber and starring Scarlett Johanssen, Colin Firth, and Tom Wilkinson. The screenplay by Olivia Hetreed was adapted from a wonderful novel of the same name, by Tracy Chevalier. The story is focused on a beautiful young maid (Griet) employed by the family of the 17th century master, Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675).
Troubles erupt when she becomes his studio assistant, and the model for what would become one of the artist’s most famous paintings. Interestingly, the actual painting is in very poor condition, and has suffered from numerous and extensive restorations—and is marred by an “ugly pattern of cracks”. Nevertheless, it became famous after its rediscovery and was dubbed the "Gioconda of the North" (in reference to Leonardo’s “Mona Lisa”) by enthusiastic critics.
Thankfully, enough of the original work remains for it to be recognized as an outstanding work—and mysterious enough to inspire the book and movie. Critics were somewhat divided when the film opened. Most agreed that the performances were excellent, and that the film was beautifully shot. But the consensus of both critics and the audience suggests that the pace was too slow, and that Firth’s acting abilities weren’t put to their best use.
We disagree. WAA sees the pace of the film as a metaphor for the way Vermeer painted—slowly, thoughtfully, and meticulously—and also mirrors his palette. So for us, both the look and the pace of the film work exactly as they should.
Johannes Vermeer - Girl with a Pearl Earring - c. 1665 - Oil on canvas, 46,5 x 40 cm Mauritshuis, The Hague (click photo for larger image)SPOILERS FOLLOW. It is important to remember that the movie is not a biobic (nor is the book a biography). This is pure fiction. For example, there was no “ Griet” in the Vermeer household. The sitter for the painter was probably either one of the daughters of Vermeer or Pieter an Ruijven. There was, indeed, a maid named Tanneke (played by Joanna Scanlan in the film), whose likeness can be found in several of the artist’s paintings. Van Ruijven, (portrayed by Tom Wilkinson) was one of Vermeer’s patrons. But there is nothing in scholarship to suggest that he was the lecherous man depicted in the film.
The characters of Vermeer’s wife, Catharina (played by Essie Davis) and her mother, Maria Thins (portrayed by Judy Parfitt) depart dramatically from reality. In truth, both women were very supportive of Vermeer’s artistic endeavors—and both modeled for him. Some scholars feel that the movie was unfair to both of these women, who endured terrible abuses when they were younger at the hands of Maria’s husband and son. (There’s definitely a story to be told there!) But “The Girl With A Pearl Earring” is fiction, folks. WAA suggests that you enjoy this lovely film (and the original novel) from that perspective.
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