THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – The Mauritshuis museum, known for housing the renowned painting "Girl with a Pearl Earring," faced a unique challenge when they loaned the artwork for the major 2023 Vermeer exhibition in Amsterdam. With the iconic piece absent, the museum sought creative solutions to fill the void left in their gallery.
In response, the museum invited over 2,700 artists worldwide—from Texas to Ukraine, spanning ages 7 to 70—to create their own interpretations of the celebrated 17th-century masterpiece. The endeavor resulted in a remarkable selection of 60 diverse works, utilizing unconventional materials such as orange peels, bottle caps, and even sweatshirts, which were then showcased at the museum while the original painting was being exhibited 40 miles (64 kilometers) away.
Martine Gosselink, the director of the Mauritshuis museum, expressed her excitement regarding the ongoing fascination with the "Girl with a Pearl Earring." "The submissions continue to come; it will never end with her," Gosselink remarked, highlighting the painting's enduring popularity and influence. This engagement with contemporary artists underscores the painting’s relevance in modern culture, even as its mysteries—such as the identity of the girl portrayed—remain unsolved. A 2020 investigation utilizing advanced imaging techniques provided insights into Vermeer's artistic methods but did not reveal the young woman's identity.
Among the diverse entries was the surrealist artwork of Rob de Heer, who aimed to connect the historical significance of the Golden Age of the Netherlands with its colonial legacy. Standing in front of his mural at the museum, de Heer combined Vermeer’s iconic imagery with that of a Wayang puppet, a traditional form of theater from regions in Indonesia, once ruled by the Netherlands until 1949. His work stood out distinctly among others, paving the way for a variety of creative takes on the original masterpiece.
Other notable works included an interpretation by South Korean artist Nanan Kang, who fashioned a face from an ear of corn, and Georgian artist Nino Kavazauri, who depicted a modern girl waiting at a bus stop with a cup of coffee. There was also a contribution from Simon Chong, a Welsh animator known for his work on the animated television series "Bob's Burgers," who illustrated a character in the show's distinctive cartoon style. These pieces added fresh perspectives to a time-honored classic.
The selected submissions were prominently displayed in a replica frame in the exact location where "Girl with a Pearl Earring" typically resides, nestled between two portraits by Dutch Baroque artist Gerard ter Borch. The popularity generated by this first competition prompted the Mauritshuis to undertake a second round, with those additional submissions now exhibited at Fabrique des Lumières in Amsterdam. Furthermore, the museum continues to showcase various submitted works on its Instagram page, fostering ongoing dialogue and engagement with the artistic community.
Gosselink, who took on the role of director in 2020, emphasized the challenge of selecting pieces from such a broad and rich pool of submissions. "I would dare to say that some of the ones we selected are new pieces of art, and they would be served very well in a new surrounding, like a museum," she noted, recognizing the high caliber of artwork derived from this unique initiative.
