Who Could Be Vermeer’s ‘Girl With a Pearl Earring’?
Tracy Chevalier’s fascinating approach towards writing the NYT bestselling novel
In 1999, American author Tracy Chevalier published Girl with a Pearl Earring, a novel that was directly inspired by Johannes Vermeer’s most celebrated painting with the same name.
Nicknamed the “Mona Lisa of the North”, this painting might need little to no introduction but what captivated me was Chevalier’s admiration for this composition and turning it into a book. This historical fiction sold more than five million copies worldwide.
Well, no spoilers — I’d not discuss the story of the novel here. But as a writer and an ardent lover of historical paintings and symbolism, I’m always fascinated with the nitty-gritties of the writing process. And so, I’d break down how Chevalier identified the main elements of the story.
The first time Chevalier saw the painting was — as a poster on her sister’s wall when she was 19. Mesmerized by the artwork, she got the poster and had it up on the wall where she lived.
Constantly looking at the painting and pondering over the question as to what brings viewers back to it again and again?
