<human>:  Can you tell me about the painting Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer?
<bot>: The painting Girl with a Pearl Earring, also known as ‘the Mona Lisa of the North’, was painted by the Dutch master Johannes Vermeer in the 17th century. It depicts a young Dutch girl wearing a turban and gazing off into the distance with a pearl earring in her left ear. The painting is mainly in shades of yellow, brown, and blue, and uses a chiaroscuro effect, with a single light source illuminating the girl's face. The painting is considered a true Dutch masterpiece and a leading example of Dutch Golden Age painting.