Tribute to Vermeer's Girl With The Pearl Earring

• Photographer
  Marjan Van Herpen

This series shows a variation and inspiration from one of the most famous paintings there are: The Girl with the Pearl Earring by J. Vermeer. Who was this unknown girl? Where did she come from and what was she wearing. Was she wearing a necklace of lapis lazuli and pearls? These refer to Vermeer's original, in which he used the precious pigment ultramarine, made from lapis lazuli. Was she a diver, actually a boy or was she with her dog? The abundance of pearls is a reference to our time where there is a wide choice of imitation and wealth. Whoever we are, we can all shine like a pearl!

Inspired by the 17th century masters, Marjan van Herpen photographs carefully lit still life compositions of a variety of flowers, vegetables and fruit. She works within an authentic Baroque style with exciting contrasts and remarkable use of light. Not only does she manage to record the objects and models on camera, but she also creates an image that you are pulled towards; a photograph which is surprising and lingers in your mind.