In 1665 the painter, Johannes Vermeer finished a painting that would become best known as “The Girl with a Pearl Earring.” It had just sold for some 30 million dollars at auction and for some reason the thought occurred to me, “What if the girl had been a young black slave girl?” And that sparked the first few lines of the poem.
So, my painting became “The Other Girl,” and the realization of how barbaric racism and slavery really was, and is. The stunning beauty in such a young woman, with all of the promises and hopes and dreams, urged me to see the best in humanity, contrasted by the very worst in any individual who would seek to enslave another.
This painting is not a “portrait,” but rather, a study in the human condition. It holds a special place for me and my hopes for humanity’s rise to greater spiritual enlightenment.
Other Girl with the Pearl Earring (OE)
Definition: Art prints made in unlimited quantities, with no cap on how many are produced or sold.
Material Type: Commercial or decorative fine art reproduction.
Quality: Quality can vary widely—from basic poster stock to high-resolution digital prints. Typically not signed, numbered, or printed with archival materials. Open editions offer a more accessible, affordable entry point into art collecting, ideal for general display and decorative purposes, but not typically considered investment-grade.