From orange peels to bottle caps: Thousands of artists create their own 'Girl with a Pearl Earring'


By AGENCY

Rob de Heer talks next to his artwork, one of 60 pieces exhibited and inspired by the famous "Girl with a Pearl Earring," painting by Johannes Vermeer, at The Mauritshuis museum in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. — Photo: AP Photo/Molly Quell

After sending its most famous work to be featured in Amsterdam’s blockbuster 2023 exhibition of nearly every work by Johannes Vermeer, the Mauritshuis museum found itself with a blank space where the iconic "Girl with a Pearl Earring” had been displayed.

The Hague-based institution turned to more than 2,700 artists, from Texas to Ukraine, from age 7 to 70, who created their own interpretations of the 17th-century masterpiece.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Culture

Five Arts Centre’s new series gives voice to solo performances in theatre and dance
Look! Up on the screen! Superhero movies and TV shows to look forward to in 2026
US award honours works bridging science and literary imagination
In Milan, a rare chance to glimpse restoration of a long-hidden Leonardo gem
National Library unveils Immersive Learning Centre for heritage digitisation
Mattel and Alex Aster team up for Barbie young adult novel 'Barbie: Dreamscape'
Malaysian theatre legends stare down the wheels of time in 'God’s Waiting Room'
What to know as the Louvre's ticket price goes up by 45%
Malaysian illustrator’s artwork selected for Pinocchio exhibition in Italy
As world burns, Indian author Amitav Ghosh writes for the future

Others Also Read