Girl with a Pearl Earring

Johannes Vermeer's *Girl with a Pearl Earring*, an oil painting from approximately 1665, has earned the nickname "Mona Lisa of the North" due to the model's enigmatic expression and the mysteries surrounding the artwork. This *tronie*, a Dutch 17th-century term for a painting focusing on a face not intended as a portrait, depicts a European girl wearing an "oriental turban" and a prominent pearl earring. The painting is 44.5 cm (17.5 in) tall by 39 cm (15 in) wide. It has been in the collection of the Mauritshuis in The Hague since 1902. While the identity of the sitter remains unknown, theories suggest she may have been Vermeer's eldest daughter, Maria. The painting draws significant international attention, including an exhibition in Japan in 2026 where it attracted approximately 280,000 visitors over five weeks.