girl with a pearl earring johannes vermeerIt is easy to see why this compelling image has become Johannes Vermeer's most admired work. It captures the viewer's attention with delicately pearlescent light effects and the insistent gaze of the model, assumed to be Maria, the artist's eldest daughter. The treatment of the background of the work contrasts with the clear, rich and colorful background that Vermeer usually offers in his portraits. This choice helps to break up Vermeer's two favorite