Prepare your eyes to be mesmerized, as Pinay artist Maria Glensie Hombrebueno’s 'Babaeng nakaperlas' is one of the artworks selected by the renowned Mauritshuis Museum in Netherlands.
Maria Glensie Hombrebueno is a self-taught painter and an engineer hailing from Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, and then migrated to the Netherlands in 2019. At the age of four, she started exploring her artistic talent. Her artistic prowess runs through her family veins, as she belongs in a very artistic family. She recalled that her grandma and father were very supportive of her when she was still a child. Her grandma would give her artistic materials she asked for, while her father taught him basic drawing and portrait sketching. Adding to the nostalgic story of hers, she drew inspiration from her urge to "revisit her childhood love affair with art'', the reason why she sent in her entry.
Mauritshuis Museum made an announcement early in 2023, calling all the creatives all over the world to reinterpret Vermeer’s art “Girl with a Pearl Earring”. Maria did not let it pass; she submitted her beautiful rendition alongside more than 3,000 entries, and is picked among 170 entries to be featured by the museum. She in fact did not have high expectations for her art to be chosen. She just found enjoyment in recreating Vermeer’s art.
'Babaeng nakaperlas'
'Babaeng nakaperlas' made by Maria is a recreation of the famous painting “Girl with a Pearl Earring'' of eminent Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer. "Girl with a Pearl Earring'' shows an imaginary young woman wearing a very large earring, which is the center of the artwork, and an elegant dress. There are various interpretations of this art. The work of Maria, meanwhile, showed a beautiful and unique resemblance of the masterpiece. |
What makes 'Babaeng nakaperlas' more meaningful is the fact that it is inspired from the Philippines, also known as 'Pearl of the Orient Seas'. It is a portrait of a Filipina in mustard-colored clothing with a pearl earring. Despite being away, she exudes through brushes her Filipina heart, pride and spirit, which we can all agree is quite patriotic.
Fun fact, she didn't even know the criteria of submission; Babaeng nakaperlas is purely out of her creative mind without basing it from existing arts. But what she was certain of was that the museum was looking for something "different". She was then surprised that her new version of 'girl' art appears to be looking like her dear aunt.
About Mauritshuis Museum
It is noteworthy to say that the Mauritshuis Museum is also a haven for the eminent Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer’s most magnificent works, the reason why it feels like a great honor and recognition for her, and for fellow Filipinos. Vermeer is a remarkable painter of the Netherlands in the 17th century. In this museum, we can also find the works of Rembrandt van Rijn, the most famous painter of the Golden Age. The museum’s gallery is full of artworks from the 16th-17th century of Dutch and Flemish masters. It is full of art extravagance and prolific history.Every week, Mauritshuis Museum displays 10 of these selected entries from all over the world until June 4 digitally. In the Vermeer room of the museum, other 5 entries in print are also displayed right beside the digital frame.
