Art-Vermeer-Girl with a Pearl Earring TB02

I maintain records on my trackables. For a US-based trackable, this one is unusual for its longevity and movement. In the six-year period, 2010-19, the owner released a total of 3,793 trackables in the United States (96%) and Europe (4%). This trackable is one of the 5% of the total that circulated for at least 5 years and had been moved at least 25 times. That is a target rate of at least five drops per year for five years, or a drop every 73 days. The average drop rate of my trackables in the US is 124 days, in Europe it is 71 days. As of 30-Oct-23 this trackable had survived for 11.5 years and had been moved by 51 cachers, for an average drop every 82 days, or 4.4 drops per year. Please keep it moving, then drop it in a safe place!

No permission is needed to leave the U.S. While in the U.S., please drop it at an event, in a Premium Member only OR a rural cache near a busy trail or road. Do not place it in an urban non-premium cache. Transport the bug in the original plastic bag for as long as the bag lasts; the bag keeps the trackable clean and dry, protects the number and prevents tangling with other items. Otherwise, take the trackable anywhere you wish.

This is one of a series of travel bugs made to recognize paintings seen, and admired by the bug owner. A digital copy of this painting was downloaded from the internet. The copy was reduced in size and proportions cropped to accommodate the laminating materials available to the owner. Regrettably these processes diminish the effort of the artist. One truly must see the original in person to fully appreciate the work. The text below is a mixture of my own observations and material gleaned from the internet (mostly Wikipedia and Web Gallery).

Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675) was a painter during the Dutch Golden Age, the 17th century. Prior to this time most patrons of the arts were the church and royalty who largely wanted portraits and paintings with religious or allegorical themes. After the Renaissance, northern Europe became a center of commerce and the middle classes prospered to the point that they wanted art to decorate their homes. And, they had broader tastes is subject matter than institutional patrons. To satisfy the demand, the Dutch and Flemish regions developed an amazing number of artists. Portraiture and religious topics were still important, but landscape, seascape, cityscape, still life and commemorative paintings began to appear. However, another kind of subject matter really flourished at this time, genre paintings. These were scenes from everyday life, depicting people from all classes.

This is my favorite art piece, for reasons I can’t completely explain. This was so before I ever saw the original. But then, I’m not alone as many art critics regard it as equal to the Mona Lisa in the way it incites the imagination. One’s eyes are drawn to the large, tear-shaped pearl hanging from the girl's ear because it contrasts with the part of the neck in shadow. An observer might say there is nothing remarkable about the pose, the tilt of the head, the smile, the garments or the colors, but taken together, a wonderful effect is produced. This work was painted, and signed in 1665 but disappeared until 1882. The painting must have had a tortured history because it is in a very poor state of conservation and suffered from numerous extensive restorations. It is furthermore marred by an ugly pattern of cracks. Nevertheless, in a quiet room where contemplation is possible, it is difficult to look away from it. To see the painting under these conditions, one must be at the Mauritshuis in The Hague when the doors open then make your way to the top floor as quickly as you are able.