Patrons of the arts in Holland and Flanders were politicians, religious leaders, trades people and merchants. Patrons were basically anyone, as the Dutch prided themselves in displaying paintings in their homes and businesses. The interests from merchants in the arts greatly influenced what was being produced by artists. Artists created works to be placed on walls in the most simple of places and still life paintings seemed appropriate for that setting.
The Dutch were well known for their still life paintings which were rich in composition, color, and texture. Still life paintings can depict anything from a shoe on a table to a person holding a fiddle. In this case it depicts a girl with a pearl earring. This particular still life was created by the artist Johannes Vermeer around the year 1660-1670 and is simply titled Girl with a Pearl Earring. It is not known exactly where this work was painted as little is known about Vermeer. However, he was born and died in Delft, a place located in what is now called the Netherlands. It is very possible that he also painted many of his works there as well.
The Girl with a Pearl Earring represents the ideals of good art in the Baroque time period. In fact, the origin of the word “Baroque” actually means “a pearl of irregular form.” Baroque artists tried to capture the spirit/personality of the individuals painted and Vermeer accomplished that endeavor quite well. You can sense the girl’s energy as though she were truly alive and right there as she stares back at you.
http://www.cranfordschools.org
http://www.cartage.org (Author of article: Blair Palmisono)
enmayak 
Nice work, the commentary on the cultural reaction to art in the Netherlands in the Broque era applies quite nicely to this image. I have seen this painting before and it is quite an appealing workthat is at the same time provokoing, dark, inquisitive, and beautiful.
Had you seen this work before writing this critique?
This is not a still life