The Girl with the Pearl Earring (Vermeer) - Art Projects for Kids

The Girl with the Pearl Earring, often called the Dutch Mona Lisa, is the work of Dutch Baroque period painter Jan Vermeer (1632-1675). This incredible and masterfully created work of art, is one that deserves a place in any child's study of the arts. The resources you will find in this article are provided to help enrich the experience that parents and teachers provide for their children/students.

Lesson Plan
Introduce Jan Vermeer by reading the following biography.

Jan Vermeer - Biography for Kids
Johanna (Jan) Vermeer (vur MAYR) was born in the Netherlands in the city of Delft. His father was an art dealer, and through the early contacts with artists Jan became interested in painting. The majority of his work was portraits which he painted for people, and he only painted about forty pictures during his lifetime...

Next, show Vermeer's painting, and discuss what qualities make this work an art masterpiece.

Questions to ask...

Does it tell the story and invite us to listen?
Does it stimulate a feeling of happiness, mystery, etc?
Does it have exceptional composition that includes attention color, technique, balance, line, and form.
It it interesting, dynamic, or vibrant? Why?
Does it deserve to be called a masterpiece? Why, after several hundred years, should we still care about it?

Lastly, end your Vermeer unit with an art project or two.

The Girl with the Pearl Earring | Free Coloring Page
For the youngest artist a coloring page may be the best way to provide a lasting connection to this work of art. Take the time to describe the colors see that your see in the work, including the variations from light to dark, and then select a set of crayons that will help them to best reproduce the work on their coloring page.

Girl With a Pearl Earring Art Activity
This lesson encourages children to look at and ask questions about this painting, and then apply the elements of interest to a work of their own.

Things to observe...

Why is she looking over her shoulder? Is someone standing behind her?
Why is she wearing a tuban?
What is the girl think about?

Materials
Girl with a Pearl Earring (Color Image)
Large Piece of Paper for Each Child
Brightly Colored Markers or Crayons
Dress Up Clothing

The Girl with the Pearl Earring | Watercolor Art Project
Interested in watercolor project? This lesson provides a step-by-step guide for recreating Vermeer's The Girl with the Pearl Earring as a watercolor painting. The girl may be drawn free hand, or you may simply print the image on watercolor paper and get right to painting.