Girl With A Pearl Earring
by Tracy Chevalier
Nomination: Women's Prize Longlist 2000
Date Read: November 16, 2021
The Girl With A Pearl Earring is based on the famous painting by Dutch artist Vermeer. An entire world is created about who the woman was, what her life was like and what became of her. Chevalier masterfully tells her story based on the times and how Vermeer crossed paths with this mystery woman.
According to Chevalier, her name is Griet, a 16 year-old maid in Vermeer’s household. Prior to this, Griet lived with her parents, her father a famous tile maker until a tragic accident rendered him blind. With no income, Griet is turned out as a maid and becomes the most troublesome maid in the household’s history.
Almost immediately, Vermeer, a man of little words and even littler emotion, recognizes something in Griet, her precision and aptitude for color in a plate of vegetables she’s arranging. Griet becomes the only maid entrusted with cleaning the Master’s studio because every item there must remain precisely where it was left. As she continues to clean from day-to-day, Vermeer slowly begins to capitalize on her precise eye and has her mix colors for him on top of all her other duties.
The secrecy surrounding her assistance was baffling to me. Was Maria Thins worried others would gossip about them having an affair? Were they worried the maid’s assistance would cheapen the perceived value of Vermeer’s paintings? I couldn’t figure it out. And not once did Vermeer ever advocate for Griet or come to her aid when found out. She was left to figure out how to add in all these new chores and make up her own ruses to spend so much time in the studio. Definitely pissed me off.
Meanwhile, Peter, the butcher’s son has eyes for Griet and only Griet. His presence in her life was also confusing. While she enjoyed his company and his gifts of meat to her impoverished family were needed and appreciated, Griet never expressed much emotion or encouragement for Peter’s affection. She knows from the outset that he is thinking of marriage but Griet comes up with excuse after excuse to delay the inevitable. I kept thinking she should grab him the first chance she gets. No one in the Vermeer household will ever have her back and her shenanigans there can only result in one ending.
Nevertheless, Griet continues on and after one lecherous patron of Vermeer’s, Sir Ruijven, insists on Griet appearing in a painting with him, Vermeer complies by painting a portrait of Griet only, sparing her from Ruijven’s unwanted advances. But throughout the portrait, it is difficult to tell if Griet has feelings for Vermeer, the artistic process, the portrait or all of the above.
The fly in the ointment are the pearl earrings, which Vermeer insists are needed in the portrait for their light. First, Griet’s ears aren’t pierced and she is left take care of matters on her own. Second, how to procure Vermeer’s wife’s pearl earrings without her knowledge. The first Griet courageously takes on herself. The second, the household waits until Catharina is out of the house and Maria Thins takes them for Griet.
The jig is up once Catharina sees the painting. She immediately recognizes her earrings on the maid and goes ballistic. She accuses Griet of stealing them, not once looking to her own husband who clearly knew since he painted her wearing them, and never looking at Maria Thins who is the only person with a key to her jewels. No one comes to Griet’s defense and she is immediately tossed out by her ear.
Griet is a strong character, a survivor, a seeker of truth and a young woman not scared of going after what she wants. This character is what makes this novel so entertaining. Catharina having to give her pearl earrings in the end, per Vermeer’s will, was also a satisfying ending, along with her marriage to Peter and her children surrounding her. I enjoyed this from the first page to the last.
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