Girl with a Pearl Earring (1665)

This iconic painting has been displayed at the Mauritshuis in The Hague since 1902, and was originally painted by Johannes Vermeer, around 1665. It is world famous and enjoys pride of place at that gallery. Despite its fame, its current title Girl with a Pearl Earring is fairly modern. It has been known by other names, including Portrait in Antique Costume, Girl with a Turban, Girl with a Pearl and Head of a Young Girl. On account of the artist’s failure to offer a formal title, subsequent generations have come up with their own, none of which seem especially thrilling or matching the quality of the depiction. Although Girl with a Pearl Earring now seems to be its accepted name, its rivals are just as accurate. Does one focus on her youth, her headdress, her jewellery or something else? Girl in a Dark Room or Girl in a Dark Room with a Bright Face would be my erstwhile contributions. Perhaps our time might be better spent enjoying the image rather than speculating about how we should describe it or entitle it.

There are many aspects of our lives which help to define us: political views, family relations, marital status, career prospects, and the rest. Yet all this shall one day be forgotten; only our relationship to Jesus Christ will endure time’s passage and death’s icy grip. Just as this woman is better known for her choice of earring than even her name or occupation, so it is your Christian faith which shall define you in the endless and glorious aeons to come.

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 1 John 5:20