The novel was adapted into a 2003 film of the same name and a 2008 play. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Are her wide eyes and enigmatic halfsmile innocent or seductive. This essay aims to use the concept of ekphrasis within the universe of intermediality to analyse the novel girl with a pearl earring, by the. The turning gesture of the sitter was a pictorial device which was tenaciously exploited by the great italian master michelangelo buonarotti and was widely used in the figurative art. Jun 28, 2014 the analysis of girl with a pearl earring this painting is of a young lady, or a younger girl, with her head turned towards the spectator and the painter, who is both. Girl with a pearl earring is a thoroughly engaging novel that follows the lifechanging experiences of quiet griet over the two years she serves the delft painter, johannes vermeer. A tronie was a study of a head designed to represent a particular figure type. Finding the story inside the painting in this ted talk 14. Sep 30, 2003 girl with a pearl earring is a thoroughly engaging novel that follows the lifechanging experiences of quiet griet over the two years she serves the delft painter, johannes vermeer. The composition of girl with a pearl earring is delightfully simple. After her father loses his sight, 17yearold griet becomes a maid to help with family expenses. The novel opens with vermeer and his disheveled wife, catharina, visiting griets family to have a look at the girl they hope to hire.
Beth harris johannes vermeer, girl with a pearl earring, c. The inspiration for a bestselling historical novel by tracy chevalier, which in turn was adapted into a 2003 film starring scarlett johansson, she. Clearly, one of the central themes of this excellent novel is the way in which characters are. He slowly draws her into the world of his paintings and ultimately has her sit for him as a model. At the time girl with a pearl earring was created, dutch girls did not generally wear turbans. Girl with a pearl earring is a fictional account of how jan vermeer may have conceived and painted his bestknown and loved work of the same name.
Griet is the central character of this book and the only one whose mind we have access to as readers. Girl with a pearl earring tells the story of griet, a 16yearold dutch girl, who becomes a maid in the house of the painter johannes vermeer. Girl with a pearl earring is vermeers most famous painting. Girl with a pearl earring the story tracy chevalier. The analysis of girl with a pearl earring this painting is of a young lady, or a younger girl, with her head turned towards the spectator and the painter, who is both. The meaning of the girl with a pearl earring the final but most noticeable feature of this picture is the girls enormous, tearshaped pearl earring. Chevalier presents a fictional account of vermeer, the model and the painting. Girl with a pearl earring major character analysis. Tracy chevaliers inspiration for the novel was a poster of johannes vermeers girl with a pearl earring. It is hard not to like this good and obedient protagonist, for she struggles with universal yearnings such as love and an escape from poverty.
Its a thought provoking story, not meant to be rushed, anyway. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Every brush stroke is dangerous, for a servant has no right to enjoy such intimacy with the master of the house, much less to wear pearl earrings. Griet narrates the story, which is told in the point of view of a young uneducated girl. Dec, 2018 buy girl with a pearl earring 01 by chevalier, tracy isbn. The girl with the pearl earring is griet, the vermeers housemaid, hired in particular to clean vermeer s studio without disturbing its order. Going by various names over the centuries, it became known by its present title towards the end of the 20th century after the large pearl earring worn by the girl portrayed there. Read girl with a pearl earring, by tracy chevalier online on bookmate an international bestseller with over two million copies sold, this is a story of an artists desire for beauty and the ultima. The novel girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier chronicles the young life of a woman named griet, as she travels through a journey full of love, hate, jealousy, hardship, and other experiences throughout her work as a maid. Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier scholastic. Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier read online. Girl with a pearl earring major character analysis griet as the narrator and subject of this bildungsroman, griet is the central character of this book and the only one whose mind we have access to as readers. It was interesting to suppose what might be the story behind both the artist and the subject of the girl with a pearl earring. Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier read online on.
The screenplay was adapted by screenwriter olivia hetreed, based on the 1999 novel of the same name by tracy chevalier. Girl with a pearl earring by tracey chevalier lesson plans and teaching resources girl with a pearl earring by tracey chevalier resources from the author, including a link to a reading group guide with 8 questions. It is hard not to like this good and obedient protagonist, for she struggles with universal yearnings such as. One of the primary features of postmodernism in aesthetic production including artworks, films, music, and, literature is the use of intertextuality. Her calm and perceptive manner not only helps her in her household duties, but also attracts vermeers attention. Girl with a pearl earring major character analysis supersummary. She is employed at the famous painter vermeers very large household. Set in 17th century delft, holland, the novel was inspired by delft school painter johannes vermeers painting girl with a pearl earring. Peter webbers film 2003 and tracy chevaliers novel 1999 of the same name, girl with a pearl earring, would be definitely some of them.
The next chevalier book on my queue will be one with original characters and an original premise. Though she is in the process of maturing, and is thus not always a reliable narrator of her own feelings, nor a cleareyed observer of the motives and actions of others, she is astute. Goodreads members who liked girl with a pearl earring also liked. Girl with a pearl earring 1666 summary and analysis. A sumptuous new look for tracy chevaliers first two novels, which will help to introduce her books to a new range of fans. She had bought the poster as a nineteenyearold and it hung wherever she lived for sixteen years. The novel centers on griet, the protestant daughter of a delft tile painter who lost his sight in a kiln accident. The girl with a pearl earring study guide contains a biography of tracy chevalier, 100 quiz questions, a glossary, major themes, a list of characters, and a full summary and analysis.
As i have said girl with a pearl earring is a beautiful film, containing marvelously filmed shots. Tracy chevalier on the filming of girl with a pearl earring. The girl with a pearl earring is the story of griet, a sixteenyear old girl who is hired by the famous painter, vermeer, to clean his studio. Chevalier noted that the ambiguous look on the girls face left a lasting impression on her. Tracy chevalier offers an affecting novel about a precocious maid in vermeers household. Chevalier presents a fictional account of vermeer, the model, and the painting. To watch girl with a pearl earring is to sense that one great photograph after another is unfolding before the eyes. Even so, girl with a pearl earring only became one of vermeers more famous pieces around the turn of the 21st century, with the 1995 blockbuster exhibition at the national gallery of art in washington, d. It did at times feel a little slow, but that was okay by me. Ekphrasis is the term used to define verbal descriptions of nonverbal sign systems, generally poetry. Sixteenyearold griet has to leave her family home in delft in 1664 after her father is blinded in an accident. Find books like girl with a pearl earring from the worlds largest community of readers. The girl with a pearl earring study guide contains a biography of tracy chevalier, 100 quiz questions, a glossary, major themes, a list of.
Dec 28, 2003 on the eve of its cinema release, tracy chevalier describes how she felt as she saw her bestselling novel girl with a pearl earring being transferred to the screen sun 28 dec 2003 17. Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier alibris. Johannes vermeer, girl with a pearl earring smarthistory. In 1999, american author tracy chevalier published girl with a pearl earring, a novel directly inspired by one of vermeers most famous works of the same. The girl with the pearl earring, if you believe the book and film, suggest that the painting was commissioned by his patron, and arranged by his motherinlaw, against the express wishes of his. For this task, vermeer needs someone who is exceedingly careful and invested in his artistic endeavors, beyond the promise of meager payment. Our story begins in 1664 when griet, a teenager who lives with her parents and younger sister in delft, is visited by a couple who wish to employ. The meaning of the girl with a pearl earring the final but most noticeable feature of this picture is the girl s enormous, tearshaped pearl earring. No hint of a setting is provided, other than its atmospherically dark tone. Girl with a pearl earring summary the novel is narrated in the first person by a sixteenyearold girl named griet, who lives in the dutch city of delft. Unlike most of the other paintings by the delft master, the subject here is only a simple head of a girl looking over her shoulder at the viewer. This 39page guide for girl with a pearl earrings by tracy chevalier includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 4 parts, as well as several. In the book, the author makes a link between visual experience and selfconsciousness. It hauntingly engages the viewer with enhanced realism.
Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier 9780007232161. The story opens in the year 1664 when griet is abruptly informed that she will be starting work as a maid in the home of the dutch painter vermeer and his wife catharina. Whats so special about vermeers girl with a pearl earring. The work has been in the collection of the mauritshuis in the hague since 1902. This comprehensive study guide to tracy chevaliers novel contains. Reading guide for girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier. Set in 17thcentury delft, holland, the novel was inspired by local painter johannes vermeers girl with a pearl earring. In her second novel, tracy chevalier imagines the life of the model for vermeers iconic painting. In girl with a pearl earring, how would you describe. Girl with a pearl earring lesson plans varsity tutors. Because art history was never this deliciously juicy. A novel by tracy chevalier is a coming of age story. Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier goodreads.
Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier, paperback. It is not a portrait, but a tronie a painting of an imaginary figure. There are numerous great examples of intertextuality. Books that defined a generation girl with a pearl earring. Girl with a pearl earring tells the story behind the advent of this famous painting, all the while depicting life in 17th century delft, a small dutch city with a burgeoning art community. A similar item of jewellery can be seen in a woman brought a letter by a maid aka lady with her maidservant c. Girl with a pearl earring critical evaluation essay. The film and novel both give fictional accounts of the girl depicted in a 17th century painting of the same title by dutch painter johannes. Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier overdrive. The author tells the story using short sentences and simple vocabulary. Although variou s scho lars are doubtful that vermeer intended the girl with a pearl earring and a study of a young woman as a pendant, the two pictures reveal both striking and subtle similarities.
Girl in hyacinth blue, chevaliers first novel succeeds on its own merits. Unfortunately the plot which connects these pieces together to form a whole does not drive us. Shes a strong writer, but girl with a pearl earring is limited by vermeers painting just as new boy is limited by othello. The girl with a pearl earring, one of the masterpieces by famed dutch painter, johannes vermeer, is a painting that does just that. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. This is a very wellwritten book, characters are subtly developed, feelings are surpressed and nothing is overegged. Her profile is painted against a black background, which brings out the colours in her face and her clothes. Girl with a pearl earring s world premiere occurred at the telluride film festival on 31 august 2003. This leads art historians to believe that vermeer intended to produce a tronie rather than a portrait. Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier is a fascinating novel set in 17th century delft, in which the fictitious story of one of vermeers masterpieces is told. Girl with a pearl earring summary and study guide supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature.
Although both pose and composition of the girl with a pearl earring are so natural as to go almost unnoticed, they are fundamental elements in achieving the expressive qualities desired by the artist. The cover of this book features girl with a pearl earring, a famous work by the dutch painter johannes vermeer c 1665 and this book tells the story of the girl who is the subject of the painting. Insight text guides girl with a pearl earring is designed to help secondary english students understand and analyse the text. Scarlett johansson stars as griet, a young 17thcentury servant in the household of the dutch painter johannes vermeer played by colin firth at the time he painted girl with a pearl earring 1665 in. We simply find ourselves at the ending, not sure exactly why or how we got there, left with a few morsels of great acting, and a lot of fantastic imagery. Girl with a pearl earring is a 1999 historical novel written by tracy chevalier. Girl with a pearl earring, tracy chevalier girl with a pearl earring is a 1999 historical novel written by tracy chevalier. Girl with a pearl earring 1664, pages 3 24 summary. Jan 15, 2004 girl with a pearl earring at times surrounds itself with an artgallery hush, but it is just so ambitious, and intriguing, and beautiful, you will find yourself immobile in front of its canvas.
Her artistic sense endears her to her master, the famous johannes vermeer, but his. Girl with a pearl earring is a 2003 drama film directed by peter webber. Jul 24, 2016 this was a very enjoyable story about a fascinating painting. A tronie was a study of a head designed to represent a particular figure type and the girl in this painting represents an exotic, oriental female. Her calm and perceptive manner not only helps her in her household duties, but also attracts vermeers a. Apr 05, 2018 i had high expectations for tracy chevaliers girl with a pearl earring, but it shares many weaknesses with new boy.
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