Johannes Vermeer’s painting “Girl with a Pearl Earring” at the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague on October 27, 2022.
The Dutch Mauritshuis museum announced on Thursday that Johannes Vermeer’s painting “Girl with a Pearl Earring” will be exhibited in Japan this year, in a loan that rarely occurs outside the Netherlands for this world-famous artwork.
This 17th-century masterpiece will be loaned to the Nakanoshima Museum of Art in Osaka during August and September, while its home museum in The Hague is closed for renovation work.
The Mauritshuis museum stated: “The Girl with a Pearl Earring is one of the most famous paintings in the world… Therefore, it is only loaned to other institutions under very exceptional circumstances.”
The last time the painting was loaned was in 2023 when it was exhibited by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
The “Girl with a Pearl Earring” toured the world between 2012 and 2014 during extensive renovation works at the Mauritshuis museum. During that period, 2.2 million people viewed the painting, according to the museum’s administration.
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The General Director of the Mauritshuis museum said in a statement: “For the Mauritshuis, the painting’s journey to Japan is a unique opportunity to present it to the Japanese public, perhaps for the last time.”
“The Mona Lisa of the North”
This painting has been nicknamed “The Mona Lisa of the North” due to the enigmatic expression on the subject’s face, reminiscent of Leonardo da Vinci’s famous work. It achieved widespread global fame after serving as inspiration for a best-selling novel, which was later adapted into a Hollywood film.
Girl with a Pearl Earring
“Girl with a Pearl Earring” is a famous 17th-century oil painting by Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer, created around 1665. It is not a portrait of a specific person but a “tronie”—a study of an idealized face, costume, and expression. The painting is renowned for its intimate gaze, luminous colors, and the mysterious identity of its subject.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia with a rich cultural history spanning over a millennium, from the classical imperial era to the samurai shogunates and its rapid modernization following the Meiji Restoration. It is renowned for its unique traditions, such as Shinto and Buddhism, tea ceremonies, and its globally influential contemporary pop culture.
Netherlands
The Netherlands, a country in Northwestern Europe, is historically known for its extensive water management systems, including iconic windmills and dikes, which have been used for centuries to reclaim land from the sea. Its rich cultural heritage includes the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century, a period of immense wealth, artistic achievement with masters like Rembrandt and Vermeer, and global trade dominance through the Dutch East India Company.
Mauritshuis museum
The Mauritshuis is a 17th-century palace in The Hague, Netherlands, which was transformed into a museum in 1822. It is renowned for its world-class collection of Dutch Golden Age paintings, including masterpieces like Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring” and Rembrandt’s “The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp.”
The Hague
The Hague is the seat of the Dutch government and the International Court of Justice, known for its role in international law and diplomacy. Originally established as a hunting ground in the 13th century, it grew into a political center while Amsterdam remained the constitutional capital.
Nakanoshima Museum of Art
The Nakanoshima Museum of Art is a modern art museum located on an island in central Osaka, Japan, which opened to the public in 2022. Its collection focuses primarily on works from the late 19th century to the present day, including pieces by renowned Japanese and international artists.
Osaka
Osaka is a major port city on Japan’s Honshu island, historically serving as the country’s commercial capital since the Edo period when its merchant culture flourished. It is renowned for landmarks like Osaka Castle, originally built in the 16th century by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and its vibrant modern districts such as Dotonbori.
Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum is the national museum of the Netherlands in Amsterdam, dedicated to Dutch arts and history. It was founded in The Hague in 1800 and moved to its current purpose-built Gothic Revival building, designed by Pierre Cuypers, in 1885. The museum’s collection spans from the Middle Ages to the present, with its most famous masterpiece being Rembrandt’s *The Night Watch*.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam originated as a small fishing village in the late 12th century and grew into a major global port during the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century. Today, it is the capital of the Netherlands, renowned for its elaborate canal system, historic gabled houses, and its role as a center of art, commerce, and progressive culture.
Mona Lisa
The Mona Lisa is a renowned 16th-century portrait painted by Leonardo da Vinci, celebrated for its subject’s enigmatic expression and innovative artistic techniques. It is housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris and is believed to depict Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a Florentine merchant. Its history includes being stolen in 1911, which significantly contributed to its global fame.
