Some of the clues are more deeply hidden, such as the specific hat on the head of one of the men. This hat was only worn during 'baby showers'. The paper also contains the saying ' As the old sang, so the young peep' - we would now say: 'as the old sang, so the young peep'. These messages can only be understood with knowledge of the customs and traditions and proverbs of the time. The painter uses symbolism that was current at the time to communicate the warning message.
Even now, it can be valuable to respond to current events and trends. I mean that in the broadest sense of the word: in terms of the subject of the advertisement, but also the visual language used. Incidentally, you can also make a bad mistake with that. For example, a large sports manufacturer had to adjust its advertisements in a hurry because they showed groups of people in fitness rooms. The corona crisis made that visual language very harmful very quickly. Timing is therefore crucial: respond to trends, but remain flexible to adjust things if current events require it.
Johannes Vermeer painted the world-famous 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' in the 17th century . Vermeer phone number list never wanted to depict a specific girl, but an anonymous, exotic lady. That is clear at a glance: the earring and headscarf were not worn by Dutch women. This phenomenon is called a 'tronie': a painting of an anonymous model who portrays a certain type. Such as a young soldier, or in this case an exotic girl. So it is definitely not a portrait. Yet that anonymity could not prevent the painting from becoming one of the world's most famous images.
Because the girl is not recognizable as a specific person, all attention can go to the beauty of the face. That face is incredibly cleverly constructed with the help of light and shadows. The light reflections in the eyes, on the earring, and on the lower lip give the painting an almost magical appearance. Without that play of light, the painting would immediately lose much of its shine, both literally and figuratively.