Movie: Girl With a Pearl Earring

Mike Dodson · 03-30-2004, 10:47 AM

This movie opened last night here in Birmingham, Al. and I had the pleasure of seeing it. I'm certainly not a movie critic, but I was blown away by this movie. It was like watch a painting in motion throughout the entire picture. Artist in general would be very intrigued by this film as it get's into some of Vermeer's techniques and also his palette and oil color making. The story line is also well written. The young lady who plays "Griet" (the model for the painting and Vermeer's servant) is an identical twin to the painting.

This is a must see for artist/historians.

Mike Dodson · 03-30-2004, 11:06 AM

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Michele Rushworth · 03-30-2004, 12:45 PM

I agree, it is a terrific movie. From what little I know of the art techniques of that period, it seemed very historically accurate too. The only thing I noticed that seemed out of place was the very large quantities of paint that Vermeer had mixed and laid out for the day. Considering the price of ingredients, the difficulty in grinding them and the way Vermeer painted, he wouldn't use that much paint in weeks! A wonderful movie, though.

Tom Edgerton · 03-31-2004, 11:29 AM

Haven't seen the movie, but loved the book. So I'm resisting seeing the movie for that reason.

In the book, the relationship was portrayed as master/servant, tho Vermeer began to see that she had a sensibility and an eye and he began to rely more on her opinion. Gradually, she became more of a colleague. But except for the slight tension/ attraction that naturally exists between all artists and their subjects, I didn't get from the book that Vermeer had any kind of full-blown sexual infatuation with her, or at least not one that he would act on.

I understand that Hollywood has spiced up this attraction somewhat and made it more overt. Hence my hesitancy to see it, as I liked the book so much.

From those who've seen it, what's your take on this?

For anyone who's not read it, it's a great read for artists. Full of vivid detail and a great feeling of daily life in that period. Also, a great feeling for how an artist politically handles his often coarse and uncomprehending patrons. I guess some things never change.

Best--TE

Mike Dodson · 03-31-2004, 12:10 PM

Tom,

I haven't read the book yet, thought I plan to, but everything you just described was carried out in this movie. There was a lot of "tension" between the two partricularly after he discovered her eye for art, which came quite natural to her seeing that her father was an artist also, but I don't recall there ever being any physical contact between the two, other than the scene where he pierces her ear.

I would recommend you seeing the movie Tom just for the visual aspect of the movie. His studio and the window in his studio, as we see in so many of Vermeer's paintings, seemed to be an exact replica. The costumes and lighting were simply breath-taking.

I also read that the paintings shown throughout the movie were actually reproductions with the exception of "the painting" which was shown at the end of the movie, this was the original.

Michele Rushworth · 03-31-2004, 01:11 PM

Having read the book and then seeing the movie, I would recommend doing both. When the movie comes out on video I'll see it again.

I didn't feel the relationship between Vermeer and his subject was in any way made more "overt" in the movie and I thought it was in fact very tastefully handled. If anything Vermeer has a protective attitude toward her as if to say that , because she is part of his art, she is above all that.

Being artists I think all of us on the Forum will appreciate the visuals in the movie. I'd rate it

Michael Fournier · 04-02-2004, 08:11 AM

I have read the book, and I saw the movie when I was in Florida on vacation in Feb. I thought that the movie was good but like any film you see the directors vision of the story not your minds vision as when you read a book.

I did feel the paintings shown in the movie (except for the Painting the movie was named after) did not measure up to the actual paintings of Vermeer.

Also what was up with the stretchers shown they did not look like anything I have seen used nor like that shown here: http://www.artrenewal.org/images/art...ng_detail1.jpg In a actual Vermeer painting showing a canvas on a easel.

Also I had a discussion about the mixing of paint with Bill Whitaker, after we both had read the book, he felt, as I, that the description was not totally accurate. As for in the movie they did not go into that much detail on the specifics But yes that was a lot of paint to mix at one time when there were no lead tubes to put the paint in to keep it from getting hard before it could be used.