From beautiful paintings to an earring, a child’s drawing, or a plate of fruit. After our second Open Call, we received over 2700 new takes on Vermeer’s iconic Girl with a Pearl Earring. A huge thank you to everyone who joined in! “We’re blown away—not just by the amount we received, but especially by the incredible quality. It’s clear that our masterpiece still inspires people all over the world,” says museum director Martine Gosselink.
Starting February 25, you can see a selection of 60 new Girls in the foyer of the Mauritshuis, displayed in a 3D-printed frame that’s an exact replica of the original.
This second Open Call was sparked by #mygirlwithapearl – The Immersive Edition, an experience that’s been on display at Fabrique des Lumières in Amsterdam since last year, powered by Nationale-Nederlanden.
About #mygirlwithapearl
Johannes Vermeer, the painter of the Girl, took center stage in 2023. From early February to early June, the Rijksmuseum hosted a major Vermeer exhibition. Of course, Girl with a Pearl Earring couldn’t be left out, so she traveled to Amsterdam for a short stay of eight weeks.
But the spirit of the Girl never left the Vermeer Room... We put out a call: create your own Girl—inspired by Vermeer’s 1665 masterpiece—for a chance to take her place while she was away.
That first Open Call sparked an explosion of creativity. Girls from all over the world made their way to The Hague—painted, drawn, made from wool, clay, wood, fabric, flower petals, buttons, ceramics, vegetables, fruit, seashells, glass beads, balloons, LEGO, or even as tattoos.
The second Open Call has now come to an end, but the project continues online. Share your Girl with #mygirlwithapearl on Instagram and TikTok for a chance to be featured by the Mauritshuis!
#Mygirlwithapearl – The Immersive Edition
The Girl Experience in collaboration with Fabrique des Lumières, we’ve mixed classic and contemporary into one amazing experience. In their Studio, the ‘culture space’, you will be dazzled. Just as you’re getting lost in Vermeer’s masterpiece, an extra layer is added. Bam! Suddenly, you’re surrounded by countless interpretations of Girl with a Pearl Earring. They’re original, stunning, funny, bizarre—or all of the above. In just seven minutes, set to an immersive soundtrack, an endless stream of incredible Girls unfolds before your eyes. Will you leave feeling inspired?
#mygirlwithapearl - The Immersive Edition is made possible by Nationale-Nederlanden, in collaboration with Fabrique des Lumières, AddiktSchbang (concept & graphics) and Kloaq (audio design).
