The Girl with a Pearl Earring (Dutch: Het Meisje met de Parel) is among the masterpieces of Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer. As implied by its name, the painting uses a pearl earring for a focal point. It is occasionally referred to as "the Mona Lisa of the North" or "the Dutch Mona Lisa".
In general, little is known about Vermeer or his works. This painting is signed "IVMeer" but not dated, though it is expected to be from about 1665. It is however unclear whether the work was commissioned, and if so, by whom.
It is generally agreed that it is probably not meant as a conventional portrait. Rather,, most recent analysis points to the image being a 'tronie', the Dutch 17th-century description of a ’head’ that was not meant to be a portrait.
On the advice of Victor de Stuers, who for years tried to prevent Vermeer's rare works from being sold to parties abroad, A.A. des Tombe purchased the work at an auction in The Hague in 1881 for only two guilders and thirty cents. At the time, it was in rather bad condition. Des Tombe had no heirs and donated this and other paintings to the Mauritshuis in 1902. The painting is still on display in The Mauritshuis in The Hague.
