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TED-Ed

Why is Vermeer's "Girl with the Pearl Earring" considered a masterpiece? - James Earle

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16,098 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

Is she turning towards you or away from you? No one can agree. She’s the subject of Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer’s "Girl with the Pearl Earring," a painting often referred to as the ‘Mona Lisa of the North.’ But what makes this painting so captivating? James Earle explains how this work represents the birth of a modern perspective on economics, politics, and love.

Watch the video and finish the Think section to complete the lesson.


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Meet The Creators

Educator
James Earle
Director
Tess Martin
Script Editor
Mia Nacamulli
Composer
Stephen LaRosa
Narrator
Addison Anderson

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