Head of a Girl - Jan Vermeer
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This painting is similar in size and composition to the painting called girl with pearl earring. Once again this painting is to demonstrate Vermeer's mastery over light and shade even though you cannot see the light source it is obvious it is shining on the young girl from the front. There are strong contrasting light and shaded areas just like in Vermeer's interior poses. There has been speculation that this painting along with the girl with the pearl earring are portraits of the painters daughters. Though some scholars do not believe this to be true.
Head of a Girl
1666-1667.
Oil on canvas.
Metropolitan Museum of Art,
New York, USA.