Why is Girl with the Pearl Earring considered a masterpiece?

The main goals of this ESL lesson plan are to:

• – Acquire artwork vocabulary including terms like “chiaroscuro,” “mirage,” and “oriental” while learning artistic techniques such as one-point perspective through visual analysis activities in this C2 lesson plan.
• – Analyze artistic masterpieces by watching videos about why “Girl with a Pearl Earring” is considered exceptional, exploring the story behind Vermeer’s painting, and understanding what makes art valuable.
• – Engage in sophisticated discussions about artistic meaning and cultural significance, describing paintings using advanced vocabulary, and participating in conversations about art appreciation and interpretation.

In this C2 lesson plan, the student will discuss the meaning and artistic value of Vermeer’s painting Girl with a Pearl Earring while learning artwork-related vocabulary.

Warm-up

The lesson starts with an activity in which the student picks the words to describe Girl with a Pearl Earring.

Vocabulary: Artwork

The student gets familiar with new vocabulary that they will later hear in a video (chiaroscuro, mirage, oriental, etc.). They read and learn about artistic terms such as one-point perspective and chiaroscuro. To apply what they learned, the student picks the paintings showing the use of these two techniques.

Video: Why is Girl with a Pearl Earring considered a masterpiece?

They watch the video that explains why Girl with a Pearl Earring is considered a masterpiece and learn more about the story behind the painting. The video is followed by activities testing the student’s understanding of both the video and the painting itself. 

In the wrap-up activity, the student sums up what they learned by answering questions about the painting.