Girl in Gold

Dana Anbar’s take on the famous oil painting by Dutch Golden Age painter Johannes Vermeer, A Girl with a Pearl Earring. Inspired by Old Masters paintings and not just their work but the mystery behind the pieces. The story that could be told. Khaleesi dressed in silver, this girl dressed in gold, Dana wanted that contrast in two significant female masterpieces. Larger brushstrokes were used in this painting to create a looser look. This is the first portrait painting using this method. This painting really holds true to Dana’s evolution in style. Striving for illusion rather than detailed perfection. Different to very saturated black and white values - Dana admires a more sienna tint and Earthy tones. Gold flakes were used in detail very minimally. Preference of gold over pearl is controversial however she wanted a harmony in the painting. Gold in the earring, the turban, the frame, bringing the painting together. She finds it fitting. Limited palette of colours were used here, ultramarine being one of them keeping Vermeer’s expensive touch. Ultramarine was more expensive than gold when he painted it and so there is irony here of using gold on this painting instead of pearl.