Girl with a Pearl Earring
Summary
Tracy Chevalier's Girl with a Pearl Earring is a captivating historical novel that imagines the story behind Johannes Vermeer's famous painting of the same name. Published in 1999, the book became an international bestseller, selling over two million copies worldwide. Set in 17th-century Delft, Netherlands, it explores themes of art, class, and forbidden attraction through the eyes of a young Protestant maid working in Vermeer's Catholic household. The novel's popularity led to a critically acclaimed film adaptation in 2003 starring Scarlett Johansson and Colin Firth, which brought Chevalier's vision to an even wider audience.
Plot
Set in 17th century Delft, Holland, Girl with a Pearl Earring follows the story of Griet, a 16-year-old Protestant girl who becomes a maid in the Catholic household of renowned painter Johannes Vermeer. As Griet navigates the strict social order and religious divisions of the time, she finds herself drawn into Vermeer's world of art. Her quick perceptions and fascination with his paintings lead to a growing intimacy between them, sparking gossip and tension within the household.
Vermeer discovers Griet's eye for art and secretly enlists her help in his studio, having her run errands and assist with tasks like mixing colors. When Vermeer's wealthy patron, Pieter van Ruijven, takes an unsavory interest in Griet, the artist is pressured to paint them together. Instead, Vermeer decides to paint Griet alone, culminating in the creation of the famous pearl earring portrait. For the painting, Griet is forced to pierce her ears and wear Vermeer's wife's pearl earrings without permission.
The resulting scandal, fueled by the jealousy of Vermeer's wife Catharina and their daughter Cornelia, leads to Griet's dismissal from the household. She marries Pieter, the butcher's son who had been courting her, and settles into life as a mother and butcher's wife. Years later, after Vermeer's death, Griet is called back to the house and learns that the artist had requested her portrait be hung in his room as he was dying. She is also bequeathed the pearl earrings, which she ultimately decides to pawn to pay off her husband's debt to the Vermeer household.
Themes
• Social class divisions and restrictions
• Art and the creative process
• Female agency and independence
• Forbidden attraction and restrained passion
• Religious tensions in 17th century Holland
• Coming of age and loss of innocence
• Power dynamics between artist and model
Setting
Set in 17th century Holland, Girl with a Pearl Earring immerses readers in the bustling port city of Delft during the Dutch Golden Age. This era was marked by great artistic and scientific achievements, as well as strict social hierarchies and religious tensions between Catholics and Protestants. The novel vividly portrays daily life in urban Holland during this prosperous yet socially rigid time.
Much of the story unfolds within Johannes Vermeer's household in Delft, where the protagonist Griet works as a maid. Chevalier meticulously recreates the domestic sphere of a middle-class Dutch home, from the tile-floored kitchen to Vermeer's light-filled studio. Beyond the house, readers get glimpses of Delft's town square, busy markets, and winding canals that were the lifeblood of Dutch commerce and culture.
The novel also ventures into other spaces that illuminate the social landscape, including Griet's humble family home, the lavish residence of Vermeer's wealthy patron, and the local butcher shop. Through these varied settings, Chevalier crafts an immersive portrait of 17th century Delft in all its vibrancy and complexity, bringing to life the world that inspired Vermeer's luminous paintings.
Characters
• Griet: The 16-year-old protagonist and narrator, who becomes a maid in Vermeer's household and eventually models for his famous painting.
• Johannes Vermeer: The renowned Dutch painter who employs Griet and develops a complex relationship with her.
• Catharina Vermeer: Vermeer's jealous and temperamental wife, who resents Griet's presence in the household.
• Maria Thins: Vermeer's shrewd mother-in-law who recognizes Griet's value to Vermeer's work.
• Pieter van Ruijven: Vermeer's wealthy patron with a reputation for molesting maids.
• Pieter: The son of a local butcher who courts Griet and eventually marries her.
• Tanneke: The Vermeer family's other maid, who is moody and jealous of Griet.
• Cornelia: Vermeer's spiteful young daughter who causes trouble for Griet.
• Maertge: Vermeer's oldest daughter, who befriends Griet.
• Antonie van Leeuwenhoek: Vermeer's friend who warns Griet not to get too close to the artist.
Quick facts
• The novel was inspired by a poster of Vermeer's painting that Chevalier had owned for 16 years
• Chevalier wrote the entire book in just 8 months while pregnant
• The novel became an international bestseller, selling over 5 million copies worldwide
• It has been translated into 39 languages
• The book was adapted into an Oscar-nominated film in 2003 starring Scarlett Johansson
• It was also adapted into a stage play that premiered in 2008
• Chevalier extensively researched 17th century Delft and Vermeer's paintings to write the novel
• The character of Griet is entirely fictional and was not based on a real person
• The novel won the Barnes & Noble Discover Award in 2000
• In 2020, BBC Radio 4 broadcast a new dramatization of the novel
About the author
Tracy Chevalier
Tracy Chevalier, born in Washington, D.C. in 1962, is an acclaimed American-British novelist best known for her international bestseller Girl with a Pearl Earring. This historical fiction, inspired by Vermeer's famous painting, has sold over 5 million copies and was adapted into an Oscar-nominated film. Chevalier's ability to blend art history with compelling narratives has become her trademark.
After graduating from Oberlin College in 1984, Chevalier moved to London, where she initially worked as a reference book editor. Her passion for writing led her to pursue a master's degree in creative writing at the University of East Anglia. This formal training, combined with her editorial experience, honed her skills in research and crafting engaging prose.
Chevalier's oeuvre spans 11 novels, many of which feature historical figures and explore themes of art, culture, and human relationships across different time periods. Her works include The Virgin Blue, Falling Angels, and The Last Runaway. Her latest novel, The Glassmaker, set in Venice, chronicles a family of glass masters over five centuries.
Beyond her writing career, Chevalier is actively involved in the literary community. She has served as the chairperson for the Management Committee of the UK's Society of Authors and is a trustee of the British Library. Recognized for her contributions to literature, she was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2008 and has received honorary doctorates from Oberlin College and the University of East Anglia.