Jan 09, 2004 tracy chevalier wrote the incredibly lush, detailed novel, girl with a pearl earring and after a time, hollywood took note of the beautiful manuscript and set about filming it, attempting to create the same sensation as chevalier, but falling a tad short, as most hollywood endeavors tend to do. Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier book analysis. History and fiction merge seamlessly in this luminous novel about artistic vision and sensual awakening. Girl with a pearl earring novel wikipedia republished. Girl with a pearl earring tells the story of griet, a 16yearold dutch girl who becomesa maid in the house of the painter johannes vermeer. Based on tracy chevaliers novel about the girl wearing a pearl earring in a portrait by artist johannes vermeer, this film tells the story of griet scarlett johansson. Chevalier presents a fictional account of vermeer, the model, and the painting.
Tracy chevalier, quote from girl with a pearl earring it seemed to me that the baker had an honest response to the painting. Girl with a pearl earring was not chevaliers first exploration of the past. Girl with a pearl earring book chicago public library. Set in 17th century delft, holland, the novel was inspired by delft school painter johannes vermeers painting girl with a pearl earring. Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier 9780007232161. Griet is a teenager in a poor family, so to get money, she goes to work with the famous dutch painter, johannes vermeer in delft. Tracy chevalier offers an affecting novel about a precocious maid in vermeers household. 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. The woman with the water jug is just as graceful as the girl with the pearl earrings as tracy tried to portray it in the novel. Sixteen year old griet, who would eventually be vermeers inspiration for his masterwork, girl with a pearl earring, is living with her family in the dutch city of delft. Set in 17thcentury delft, holland, the novel was inspired by local painter johannes vermeers girl with a pearl earring. In the novel griet was vermeers inspiration that he has been looking for. Girl with a pearl earring is based on the novel by tracy chevalier, who tells the story of a forbidden love affair pardon the cliche between painting master, johannes vermeer colin firth, and the only woman who seemed to appreciate his work, a timid young maid named grit scarlett johansson. Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier goodreads.
Vermeers paintings make people look outside the box rather than just looking at the painting blandly. The paintings woman with a pearl necklace, young woman with a water jug, a lady writing and the portrait girl with a pearl earring are thoroughly described in the book. In tracy chevaliers girl with a pearl earring, the subject of johannes vermeers most famous painting is brought to life. Oct 03, 2020 final thoughts on girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier. Name institution course instructor date girl with a pearl earring. Girl with a pearl earring essay example topics and well. Celebrate tracy chevaliers modern classic girl with a pearl earring, featuring a gorgeous new edition illustrated with eight pages of vermeers masterworks. A young peasant maid working in the house of painter johannes vermeer becomes his talented assistant and the model for one of his most famous works. Englandbased chevaliers first us appearance is another novel based on a painting of vermeer see susan. The girl with a pearl earring, 1665 by johannes vermeer. Jun 09, 2012 girl with a pearl earring tells the story of griet, a 16yearold dutch girl who becomesa maid in the house of the painter johannes vermeer. Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier, paperback. Her calm and perceptive manner not only helps her in her household duties, but also attracts the painters attention. Girl with a pearl earring is a 2003 drama film directed by peter webber.
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 the. The scant confirmed facts about the life of vermeer, and the relative paucity of his masterworks, continues to be provoke to the literary. Girl with a pearl earring tracks the coming of age of a teenage girl, griet, given as a servant to the family of famous painter, vermeer. Girl with a pearl earring paperback book discussion. Fittingly, chevaliers writing style adopts a painterly approach. Sep 27, 2019 please explain the novel girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier, especially the bit when she is piercing her ear.
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. Griet is portrayed as intelligent, beautiful, and modest. 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. Girl with the pearl earring tracy chevalier 3 stars. Girl with a pearl earring is about a maid, who becomes a model, who gets her picture painted and attracts the notice of a few men.
The appointment of the quiet, perceptive heroine of the novel, the servant griet, gradually throws the household into turmoil as vermeer and griet become increasingly intimate, an increasingly tense situation that culminates in her working for vermeer as his assistant, and ultimately sitting for him. Its incredibly atmospheric and brilliantly evokes the era and sense of place. 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. Girl with a pearl earring 2003 girl with a pearl earring. Even so, girl with a pearl earring became one of vermeers more famous pieces only around the turn of the 21st century, with the 1995 blockbuster exhibition at the national gallery of art in washington, d. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Van ruijven tried too hard when he looked at paintings, with his honeyed words and studied expressions. Apr 06, 2014 after reading girl with a pearl earring the reader will understand just how important children are to the work as a whole for their actions drive the plot and more then half of the book s characters are children. Hollywood made the novel into a film, girl with a pearl earring, in 2003. At 16, griet is taken to vermeers house and her main task is to clean his studio without moving anything.
Girl with a pearl earring tells the story of sixteenyearold griet. A vivid portrait of colorful seventeenthcentury delft, as well as the hauntingly poignant story of one young girls rite of passage. Here are descriptions of most of the characters in the book girl with a pearl earring. The novel centers on griet, the protestant daughter of a delft tile painter who lost his sight in a kiln accident. This is a short imaginative response written from the perspective of the painter johannes vermeer in response to the line griet, you are not looking at me. Jan 16, 2004 when her father goes blind, griet scarlett johansson must go to work as a maid for painter johannes vermeer colin firth. A good example of such is girl with a pearl earring novel and film. 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 name. Girl with a pearl earring won the title of the netherlands most beautiful painting in 2006 by popular vote. It provides a thorough exploration of the novel s plot, characters and main themes, as well as an examination of its genre and chevaliers use of symbolism and stylistic devices. Jun 24, 2014 the painting girl with a pearl earring dutch. Girl with a pearl earring summary and study guide supersummary. 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 novel s interest in the relationship between vision and blindness is suggested by the figure of griets father, a former tile painter who loses his sight in a kiln explosion. Novel versus film plot presentation and flow of ideas tend to differs in books and films. This novel is narrated by a girl named griet who lives in the dutch city of delft. 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. Girl with a pearl earring fanfiction archive fanfiction. Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier thats what.
In 1999, author tracy chevalier published an historical novel based on the painting. The girl with the pearl earring plot summary slideshare. In 1999, tracy chevalier, an expatriate american living in london, inspired by the portrait girl with a pearl earring 166567, released a novel 12 scripta uniandrade, v. The story of griet, whose life is transformed by her brief encounter with a. The screenplay was adapted by screenwriter olivia hetreed from the 1999 novel of the same name by tracy chevalier. A novel and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Set in 17thcentury delft, holland, the novel was inspired by local painter johannes. It has been in the collection of the mauritshuis gallery in the hague since 1902. Griet narrates the story, which is told in the point of view of a young uneducated girl. The girl with the pearl earring is griet, the vermeers housemaid, hired in.
There are subtle links between griets father and vermeer who, on the surface at least, appear to be polar opposites. Whats so special about vermeers girl with a pearl earring. A novel paperback january 1, 2001 by tracy chevalier author. Girl with a pearl earring, is set in the year 1664, when dutch painter, johannes vermeer is wellknown, but had hit an artistic roadblock. Analysis girl with a pearl earring, lies at the heart of tracy chevaliers novel, an historical novel that doesnt read like an historical novel.
With scarlett johansson, colin firth, tom wilkinson, judy parfitt. The painting itself shows a mysteriousness to it and the painting of the girl with the pearl earrings facial expression made tracy want to create a story about the dramatization on her face. How are power struggles portrayed in girl with a pearl earring by tracy. The girl with the pearl earring is griet, the vermeers housemaid, hired in particular to clean vermeers studio without disturbing its order. The novel revolving around the painting vermeer created of the girl with a pearl earring, the entire plot builds up to the modeling and painting of griet, the maidservant become an artists canvas subject. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading girl with a pearl earring, the. 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.
It is about things not said, opportunities not taken, potentials not realized, lips unkissed. Girl with a pearl earring is an engaging fictionalization. A good example of such is girl with a pearl earring novel. This practical and insightful reading guide offers a complete summary and analysis of girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier. Chevalier presents a fictional account of vermeer, the model and the painting. Girl with a pearl earring the story tracy chevalier. Though different in upbringing, education and social standing, they have a similar way. She ends up working in the vermeer household and soon becomes the personal assistant of johannes vermeer, helping him in his art studio. The novel has a strong plot and engaging firstperson narrative voice. Girl with a pearl earring book summary, by tracy chevalier allen.
Sixteenyearold griet has to leave her family home in delft in 1664 after her father is blinded in an accident. In seventeenthcentury delft, there is a strict social orderrich and poor, catholic and protestant, master and servantand all know. Looking at the painting after having read the novel. Top 10 facts about the girl with a pearl earring from. Girl with a pearl earring, tracy chevalier girl with a pearl earring is a 1999 historical novel written by tracy chevalier. The elegant prose evokes contemplation, the pace is slow and cumulative the drama emotional rather than visceral. The novel was adapted into a 2003 film of the same name and a. Griet is a sixteenyearold girl who is forced to work as a maid due to her familys poor financial situation. 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.
Girl with a pearl earring is a 1999 historical novel written by tracy chevalier. 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. All of these elements are guessed at by the filmmakers as they regard a painting made in about 1665 by johannes vermeer. For this task, vermeer needs someone who is exceedingly careful and invested in his artistic endeavors, beyond the promise of meager payment. 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. In her novel girl with a pearl earring, tracy chevalier tells the invented story of the girl who modeled for johannes vermeers famous painting. Dec 26, 2003 girl with a pearl earring is a quiet movie, shaken from time to time by ripples of emotional turbulence far beneath the surface. The vermeer home, which is located in papists corner, a catholic neighborhood within delft, holland, is unusual to griet.
A modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, supersummary offers highquality. This is a slow, seductive and subtle book that gradually draws you in. The novel opens with vermeer and his disheveled wife, catharina, visiting griets family to have a look at the girl they hope to hire. This film, adapted from a work of fiction by author tracy chevalier, tells a story about the events surrounding the creation of the painting girl with a pearl earring by 17th century dutch master johannes vermeer. Her calm and perceptivemanner not only helps her in her household duties, but also attracts the paintersattention. 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 topics for discussion tracy chevalier this study guide consists of approximately 44 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of girl with a pearl earring. As a result, she finds parallels between herself and a troubled ancestor a woman.
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