Obituary

Vermeer's quiet masterpiece became the internet's image of someone caught doing something they shouldn't — glancing back over her shoulder at the group chat, at the fridge, at the consequences. She died when the last unironic 'girl with a ___ earring' caption was posted, and the pearl lost its glow.

Portrait: Johannes Vermeer · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Born

2013

Died

2019

Cause of death

Recaptioned by every art-history student

Last sighting

A 'me looking back at my mistakes' edit, 2019

Resting place

Section B, Row 2

Category

art