As we approach the halfway point, I am still woefully behind. However, this is my second book this week, and I've started another, and I have another that is almost done, so there is hope yet.
This is an interesting book in that imagines the story behind the painting of the same name by the 17th century Dutch master Vermeer. As the author tells it, the girl in the painting is named Griet, the daughter of a tile painter who can no longer practice his craft, due to the loss of his sight in a kiln accident. In order to help out financially, Griet is sent to work as a maid for Vermeer's wife, who is expecting her sixth child. One of her jobs is to clean the studio of the artist. Vermeer is very particular about the placement of items in the studio, especially of course the arrangements of items that he is painting, and apparently efforts of past servants to clean had been quite unsatisfactory. Griet possesses a unique sense of things being in their proper space, and is able to clean the studio without upsetting the master. In fact Vermeer recognizes her keen eye and attention to detail, and winds up having her assist him, grinding paints and even occasionally offering suggestions on the setting of the works in progress.
As a pretty teenage girl, Griet attracts the attention of a number of the men around her. Van Ruijven, Vermeer's patron, is constantly making lecherous advances toward her. Pieter, who is the butcher's son and much closer to her age, courts her for marriage. Her parents encourage him, as she would be financially secure in his family's business, and they would get free meat. Even Vermeer holds feelings for her, and although he resists acting on them, he is still jealous of the other men.
Griet is unsure of which way her life should unfold. Should she continue working as a maid, enduring the machinations and backbreaking labor of the household for the opportunity to explore her artistic sensibilities with the master Vermeer? Or should she do what is expected of her and marry Pieter, live a relatively stable life, see to the well-being of her parents and start family of her own? Or should she choose another path entirely? Ultimately, sitting for the Pearl Earring portrait is the catalyst which sets into motion events that cause her to make her choice.
This book paints a fascinating picture of life in Delft in the 17th century, and tells a wonderfully imagined story of this girl coming of age, but there are very few surprises. Perhaps it is a reflection of Griet's simple hard-working protestant upbringing, or a commentary on the place of women in 17th century society, but the story moves along much as you expect it, and Griet does pretty much what you would expect her to do, most of the time. Still, it's a lovely story, and worth a read.
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