I love how the conservators speak about the painting like it is a person to be cared for and adored.

I bet the people back in 1665 would be more impressed by the robot making duplicates of fine art.

I love the style of the woman at 3:30. Her hair, necklace, and glasses all match!

I remember seeing her when she was on loan in San Francisco and she had a mesmerizing glow about her I was not expecting

Vermeer : "I use Photoshop, with one layer" Michelangelo : "I use Zbrush, with no plugins" Da vinci : "I use AutoCAD, without perspective gird" Picasso : "I use Microsoft Paint, with a mouse" Van Gogh : "I use FinalCutPro, with my left ear"

*The original is she, the replica is it.* That probably says it all

I once interviewed a physics grad student whose research was around paint and how it worked with light and how it degraded with time and the effects on conservation. As someone who was always terrible at physics, it was a very interesting but crazy interdisciplinary research

It's amazing to take that close-up look at the pearl and see that it's barely there. It is defined by its reflections and for being such an iconic part of this painting, it is really more a perception by the viewer than an object depicted by the artist.

7:35 Her hair, her sweater and her frames match so perfectly is so satisfying.

Not ashamed to admit that I had no idea about this painting. I might've seen the image someplace but I didn't know anything about it, much less this level of amazing detail and history. I've also never, ever looked at it in this way or for this long. I kept waiting for her to blink.

Imagine painting something and having your artwork admired, treasured and studied meticulously centuries later

There will sadly come a time when those reproductions will look more faithful to the original painting than the painting itself will (if it keeps deteriorating). 🙁 I imagine people, say in 31st century, looking at the reproductions for the accuracy and at the original out of respect to the artist and awe. They'll both be equally important for the different reasons.

One thing any original has that no copy ever will is a direct line to its creator. To celebrate an artist’s work is to celebrate the artist that made it as well. And the original canvas was there. It was touched by the artist. And Vermeer, much like his most famous painting, is shrouded in mystery. So the original represents not only the image created by the paints and pigments, but also the moment it was created.

The copy is interesting in the context of for example the big museum fire in Brazil this year. If they get close enough we could make backups of entire museums.

this is sooo interesting and abbie vandivere has awesome hair

There was a movie in 1953 called "four sided triangle" where 3 friends were able to duplicate any item. The movie gets crazy, but at the beginning the 2 things they wanted to use the technology for were to duplicate medicine and to duplicate works of art. Not for money but to give to people because art is that important.

Oh, so the reason it's difficult to make a bright oil painting is because the paint is transparent? I didn't know that! So whites aren't supposedly saturated enough to remain white if there're other layers of color beneath them, right? Then that is indeed strange. I know next to nothing about paints, so finding out things like this makes me appreciate the work more.

The reason we value the original, over even expensive reproductions, is because we have a shared experience as physical human beings who pass through time and space. Rembrandt is part of our shared world history. You can get a robot to follow a computer program governed by principles of AI and it will reproduce or create a lot of interesting art work. But no one wants it or identifies with it and it’s really only good for mouse pads or coffee mugs. Human made art has the ability to be transcendent in a way that reproductions can never do.

Her glasses match the hair :D

My grandma used to have a print of this painting in the living room and I remember asking her if it was real, and she said it was as real as the photos on the fridge, which didn't really make sense to me at the time but I get now that she meant that it is as significant to her in the same way those photos are

Just recently I saw a replica of the girl with pearl earrings by Vik Muniz, who recreates the backsides of famous paintings. Seeing the “real“ back in the video I was amazed by how perfect it actually was. It felt surprisingly real without me ever seeing the image itself (even though the original wouldn't ever be just leaned to a wall.) That was definitely one of my favorite parts of the exhibition.

Wow. Your videos have taught me so much about a whole amazing world that I was missing! I will never look at a piece of art the same way again. More, please!!

I just painted my great grandaughter as the girl with a pearl earring in oils. Very close but I paint portraits for a living.

Thank you for such an insightful discussion on the reading of a painting's surface, and also for the mini travelogue of The Hague. I'll never get there but I really enjoyed it vicariously.

Vermeer used a camera obscura to achieve his effects. Didn't hear it mentioned. Also there is a movie out "Tim's Vermeer" an engineer figures out how vermeer painted. It is really fascinating.

I really appreciated the part where he mentioned they were working towards making reproductions better so artwork can be shared. Any time I see a work of art in a private collection that I really connect with I'm sad that so many won't be able to see it in the same quality or at all.

This is so cool. I did my undergraduate thesis on the pigments Vermeer used and it's amazing to hear they are working on this! I also think the concept of reproductions is incredibly interesting in the context of access and conservation in the art world (or museum world generally). I think of a lot of ethnological items in very fragile condition, or textiles or cyanotypes or other media that are constantly fading with exposure to light. Also just the general accessibility of seeing a photo on the internet, and what that experience is like in comparison to (or in addition to) seeing it in person. I'm making a very brief stop in the Netherlands in February and I'm going to spend those hours at the Mauritshuis (as well as taking trains there and away) namely because I want to see the three Vermeer paintings there in person (I think that the View of Delft and the Diana painting are some of his most interesting as well), which is I also think says some interesting things about the real versus the reproduction. Girl with the Pearl Earring was my first introduction to Vermeer, before I even decided to be an art history major and then pursue a career in museums. Would I still want to see the painting in person if I hadn't seen reproductions of it? How is my experience of seeing reproductions of it now different from the reproductions my grandparents saw or the descriptions they read in their guidebooks? How does it change how I'll perceive the piece if I get to view it in person? So many things to think about!ally neat

What truly separates originals from reproductions is the small pieces of an artist's soul poured into each and every work. I think that is the aura spoken of.

i love this channel; its videos are always so thoughtful

One of my favorite paintings ever, great video, thank you!!

even if you don't care about the scientific deconstruction of an artwork, the fact remains that the original is and will always be the original. object A is THE work of x artist, and nothing will ever change that, no perfect replica can replace its originality. the fact that generations of people from all cultures would care this much about art preservation and an entire artistic and scientific discipline revolves around it is obvious proof that humans definitely care about original works of art. honestly, asking the question "does the original matter?" is basically asking "does it matter?"

Vermeer is one of my all time favourite artists!! Love this video!!!

Fantastic as always. I like the documentary, Tim's Vermeer, which gives a theory as to how Vermeer was able to achieve his results. It's very good.

Incredible analysis of an incredible subject and an equally incredible artist. Thank you.

Vermeer 's work looks like a photo only 300 years old.

Someone needs to create a 3D oil-paint-jet printer that can get the color effects right.

I visited the Mauritshuis to see the paintings - the Rembrandt of the examining table was amazing too - but only had time to visit the museum. The town looks quite beautiful and I'm sorry I missed that part of it!

The Allegory (Art) of Painting and View of Delft are by far his most amazing paintings. (Though there are few I haven't seen.)

Ooooh I wanna get my fingers all up on that copy.... I wanna study how art FEELS. Topooooooography.....

I wonder, if I saw these works in person, would I be so moved I’d cry. That’s how I felt while viewing ancient Japanese blades. The amazing human achievement in each object and each example’s survival to this point in time would evoke an indescribable emotion.

This is fascinating!

I once did a satire drawing of her for English class. I love that painting so much

Vermeer's "Girl" at the Mauritshuis has an equivalent in the Metropolitan Museum, which is Velásquez Juan de Pareja. Both paintings share striking similarities, both are portraits of common people, both have a neutral background, and both sitters stare at us, the viewers, in a way we feel we are being looked at. And, of course both are brilliant works by two of the greatest painters in history. The one signifficant difference is, as opposed to the Vermeer painting, which is shrouded in mystery, the Velásquez portrait couldn't have been more thoroughly documented, from their trip to Rome from Madrid, to the Velásquez 'warmup' with Pareja, his assistant, for the magnificent (-"too true") portrait of Innocent X, and the tremendous public reaction to seeing Pareja's portrait at the Pantheon in Rome, shortly after it was painted. Another interesting detail about the Velásquez (which brought me to writing this), is the fact Pareja's painting is also refferred to by curators at the Met. as -"he", or -"him", like the Girl in Den Haag.

Ive always loved this painting I dont know why but Im just so attracted to this painting

I love such passionate people.

We watched this video in my World History class, and it was so interesting. The kind of art I make is very different, but it’s always interesting to look back at the classics, that, in one way or another, got us to where we are now.

Beautiful painting!

I've painted her three times, It's actually an easy painting and quite fun trying to get inside the mind of the artist.

My personal favorite of the Vemeer paintings is “Lady in Blue Reading A Letter” I don’t know why, I just love it!

I've visited the Mauritshuis several times and it's the Vermeer's that always draw me back. That and the time machine just down the street... the Panorama Mesdag.

I went to the Mauritshuis but didn't have time to see the town. Bummer. The Rembrandt examining table painting was also pretty amazing.

Watch “Tim’s Vermeer” for an interesting study of how Vermeer created his master works.

Camera obscura. There is a lovely doc on this out there. Tim’s Vermeer~ something like that.

I love Thoughts From Places videos :)

Hi, the Google Arts and Culture link in the description is not working. Thanks.

this is so fascinating.

Her expression is so captivating that I doubt is a tronie no matter what experts say. The most wonderful of Vermeer paintings.

Very Nice!! I like I love Vermeer! What soft and lovely light he painted. The light was almost always daylight from a window on one side of the painting. Blue and Yellow, the idea of color valance and complementary colors was not introduced until the 18 century, good contrast pattern of balance of blue and yellow, reflection, and illusion!

1:24 That still-life looks delicious! If only someone would recreate that food in real life, and make a video about it…

The implied movement is also worth considering. Is she turning towards the viewer or away? If she is turning towards the viewer she is seen as flirtatious, if turning away; she is apprehensive. She is moving, and that movement is key to the expression, which is created by the viewer. Her face is a blank canvas upon which we can imply our own thoughts and feelings.

vermeer painting his world and was excellent at painting light. he didnt use actual angles as he tilted mirror and window sun light shadowing thd way he wanted it rather than how it naturally shadowed. he was a expert with coloring . He cheated a bit useing a camera refractor .this helped him learn light shadowing so well.

For me it’s the freshness of the painting. He could have found her today. When I go out in the streets, there are her sisters and cousins. Even her mother. Every time I see a picture of the paining it amazes me of the familiarity of that face. Wouldn’t it be nice to make a copy of how it looked when it was just painted.

Vermeer is my favorite i should try to go to the maurits huis when im in the Netherlands again

I remember seeing the painting a couple ago. It means more to me than the Mona Lisa.

Thank you PBS for making art channel like The Art Assignment. I would like to request a theme of you r next or future video to cover and explain more about illustration as a type of art due to nowadays there are a lot of new illustrators are born rather than being a painter, and since you haven't make a discussion about it in your channel. Thank you before, hope you can fulfill my request. :)

“She” is amazing. I have seen every Vermeer that can be seen, in their home museums, but standing in from of the “Mona Lisa of the North” is quite the euphoric experience. I cannot imagine coming close to feeling the same way about a reproduction. In the town of Delft they have had Vermeer painting contests to test local artists’ skills. The Mauritshuis Museum is a majestic venue to visit. Don’t forget Vermeer’s The View of Delft is also there. There are a number of other paintings by Johannes (please don’t call him Jan; you wouldn’t refer to Leonardo as as Leo) at the Rijksmuseum a short train ride away in Amsterdam.

there is value in studying it when it doesn't need restoration. It adds to the volume of information on the painting, and the artists techniques and materials. it can be. used at a later time to restore the work, to restore other vermeer works or to authenticate a potential vermeer

Art is a shortcut to heaven.

This is an interesting video. I love it and Art.

This is the second time you've dodged the issue of physically pronouncing Dutch; you've got to face the music (or at least the International Phonetic Alphabet) someday, Mrs. Green!

I love her eye's. I'm particularly drawn to left one. It has the depth of soul in isolation. But the right one seems to be slightly defective and has the white bleed into the iris to much. But the o effect when viewed over all does seem to work and gives her an innoce which i think is what draws people in.

If you want to learn about Vermeer's painting, watch the documentary Tim's Vermeer. Simply amazing.

Greatest Artist to have ever lived......

In my mind there's a story about Her and It. And it's already breaking my heart. I hope they both survive.

This idea about aura, reproduction, and the future, reminds me of this quote from _Cloud Atlas_: "The maglev sofa swung under the distinguished man’s weight. His daughter-in-law, he said, had redesigned my quarters with me in mind. The Rothko canvases, she hoped, I would find meditative. “Molecule-true original originals,” he assured me. “I approved. Rothko paints how the blind see.” (David Stephen Mitchell Cloud Atlas: A Novel (New York: Random House, 2004), 218) I love this idea of molecule-true original originals!

So much of Vermeer’s genius is explored and revealed in the doc “Tim’s Vermeer” (2013). It reveals that Vermeer likely used a camera obscura and mirrors to get such exceptional accuracy. I highly suggest watching it!

Given the choice between visiting de Rijksmuseum or Mauritiushuis I'd go to den Haag every time and twice on Sunday (if it were open! Lol). It has such an intimate atmosphere and the most choice of works by the masters in all of Holland ( in my opinion).

The difference between them? The original and the hi-res print? Vermeer's original has the soul.

Why three youtube channels (Only in Japan, Today I found Out and this channel) suddenly upload video about this Vermeer painting?

I was reading a book about René Magritte and it said that Magritte would often say that the reproduction of a painting was enough for him, that he needed to see the original ‘exactly as little as he had to read the original manuscript of books which he had read.’ I don’t ever feel the need the original text of even my absolutely favourite novels even though I’m sure it would be an illuminating experience. I wonder why I feel so differently about artworks though. There is always that need to see the original with my eyes. Anyway, even though I may not necessarily shares his views, I did find Magritte’s perspective very interesting.

This was fascinating. I just finished watching a BBC series that investigates the history and physical chemistry of paintings. Really cool.

I often wonder how much time these kinds of people actually spend with artists in person

I've recently begun aiding a friend with his vast art collection, and there is one painting that I have spent large quantities of time staring at transfixed by it's beauty. The painting is about the size of post card and sits humbly on his coffee table, surrounded by the finest silver and crystal. Her name is The Shattered heart, and she is a self portrait by Rachel Bess. The differintion between the texture of her skin from the cloth and glass to the intentional brush strokes in the background is captivating, and her eyes heartbreaking. All this being said, merely viewing a google image makes her less remarkable, she looses her life and form. I've pondered having a print made and framed for my home, but it seems as though it would be a bastardisation of something that I, in all my nihilism, find meaningful. So, perhaps art is about something more than mere aesthetic appreciation, about transcending the realm of physical space into something true, something real.

I was alone with the painting for about 10 minutes Jan '20, in fact, only about 20 people were in the whole of Mauritshuis. Felt good after having spent 20 minutes in line at the Louvre for the Mona Lisa a week prior.

Super interesting

Really happy to see you quote Walter Benjamin. I'm taking an Intro to Philosophy of Art class at my university, and we just read that essay last week. Very dense, but rewarding.

the fact that paintings age like our skin, imo is one of the reasons that they can feel so alive and exciting!!!

It is the aura of authenticity

she's so beautiful

Like someone said below, the "vibes" of the original are absent in a copy. Objects are like recorders, they record a person who is working with or having that particular object so the original is imprinted with its creator in a metaphysical way which people could sense, the copy won't have that special "feeling" that would radiate from the painting or artwork.

So Pretty!

The Idea and the Idol...

dude, this is cool

A replica will never replace anything that is created through skill and love. This is why people buy an expensive rolex watch over a chinese replica with the same features and detail. Because it's a trophy of the human ability, the idea that a human can create something so genuinely creative with such skill and precision.

“The king and queen work...” lol

Did you guys visit the Mauritshuis recently? Since the cooking episode had a similar theme😏

I saw a vid of a guy that figured out how Vermeer used a lens and a light box to paint.

Man, I enjoyed this. I'm sorry that I'm late to the party.

Can you make more videos about Vermeer pls? I love Dutch artists

"Ain't nothin' like the Real thing baby. "🎶🎵🎼🖌️🎨👱‍♀️🤩