Girl with a Pearl Earring- Vermeer

This is my favorite painting of Vermeer. Vermeer was most of the time painting women in everyday life tasks, here in this painting, the girl was actually working as a maid in Vermeer's house, and during a "no inspiration" period she helped him in some of his works.
Vermeer used chiaroscuro  technique of painting, in other words the painting is composed of light and dark areas. The ground is a thick, yellowish-white layer containing lead white.
The dark background and the deeper shadows of the girl's face, turban were established with a mixture of black and other pigments of colors. The turban was painted with varying shades of blue.