Brain scientists reveal there's a good reason why we're so fascinated by Vermeer's painting 'Girl with a Pearl Earring'
The painting 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' (or 'Girl with a Blue Turban') by Johannes Vermeer is one of the most famous paintings in the world. Why is it that people are so fascinated by the girl in this painting?
Can't take my eyes off you | Mauritshuis
https://www.mauritshuis.nl/nu-te-doen/neuro-onderzoek/
Scientists unlock secret of 'Girl With Pearl Earring'
The Mauritshuis Museum has works by Dutch painters such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Steen. Because Vermeer was a prolific painter and died in his 40s, only a little over 30 of his works remain today, but the museum has three of them: 'Girl with a Pearl Earring,' 'View of Delft,' and 'Diana and the Nymphs.'
The study, conducted by neuroscientist Martin den Otter and the Neuronsics brain research institute, was carried out to determine whether there was any added value to seeing the original 'Girl with a Pearl Earring,' even though we often see replicas of the painting.
The study found that viewing the original 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' at the Mauritshuis elicited ten times the emotional response compared to viewing a replica, and that activity was particularly increased in the precuneus area of the brain compared to the other paintings studied.
The study also found that 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' attracted more attention than any other painting in the study.
Whether we are looking at a human being, a painting, or a photograph, we look at the face to interpret emotions and determine whether it is safe to use. To do this, we look at the eyes and the mouth.
According to the study, people who saw 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' first looked at the girl's eyes, then her mouth, then the pearl earring, and then the eyes, mouth, earrings, and so on. This created a state where people could not take their eyes off 'Girl with a Pearl Earring', as if they were fascinated by it. Otter describes Vermeer as 'setting a sustained attention loop.'
Martin Gosselinck, director of the Mauritshuis Museum, pointed out that while Vermeer's works usually focus on one point and leave other parts slightly obscured, 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' is different in that it has multiple points that draw the eye, such as the eyes, mouth, and pearls. 'In Vermeer's paintings, you see people who look busy, like someone writing or doing needlework, but this painting is very different. She's looking at you,' he said.
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