Girl With A Pearl Earring Journal

Girl with a Pearl Earring Journal

1664 ▪ The novel opens with Griet in the kitchen preparing vegetables for soup. ▪ The description of how Griet separates the vegetables into a colour wheel gives the reader the understanding that Griet is artistic. ▪ We are introduced to Johannes Vermeer and Catharina Vermeer who visit Griet and her family to inspect Griet and her work habits before they allow her to work in their household. ▪ Griet is told she is to become a maid in the Vermeer household ▪ Griet sees her father and is revealed to the reader that her father was blinded after a kiln he was working with exploded taking away his sight and livelihood. ▪ Her father gives Griet his most treasured tile with a picture
Griet finds herself defending Vermeer when her mother suggests that his work output is small because he is idle. It becomes clear to her parents that discussing the painter makes Griet uncomfortable ▪ Van Ruijven corners Griet at the feast, grabbing her and announcing to Vermeer that he should paint her. The implication is suggestive and makes Vermeer uncomfortable but he does not rescue her not wanting to offend his patron. It is Pieter the father who saves her by asking for more wine, giving her an excuse to escape ▪ The Vermeer house becomes cold and flat and Vermeer is more distant from Griet. With nothing to distract her thoughts, she finds herself dwelling on Agnes’s death. ▪ Griet believes that Vermeer is lost for inspiration and decides to clean the windows hoping new light will motivate him. ▪ Vermeer walks in on her cleaning and as she looks over her shoulder, he asks her to freeze and she thinks she has done something wrong. He studies her intently and is given permission to keep cleaning ▪ The next day, the room is set up for a new
Vermeer is worried that Van Ruijven will want Griet to sit in the painting but Maria Thins dismisses the problem more concerned about the fact that they are in debt ▪ Griet’s mother has heard gossip in the market place that Griet is to be painted, so she asks Griet at her next visit. Griet denies any knowledge of this saying that she has not been told of this ▪ The next day, Pieter the father seems angry at her, admitting that he has also heard the rumours saying that he has heard the news from Van Ruijven’s cook ▪ Griet seeks out Maria Thins to ask what is going to happen and Maria Thins replies with a question about how Griet would feel is she were to be painted ▪ Maria Thins explains that Vermeer has defended Griet and risked his parton’s anger by refusing to paint her in such a way. She also reminds her that he may not be able to hold him off indefinitely as he cannot afford to risk his family’s future and offend