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Vermeer’s Masterpiece Heads to Japan for Final Exhibition

1/12/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The Mauritshuis in The Hague will loan Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring to the Nakanoshima Museum of Art in Osaka from August 21 to September 27, 2026.
The loan coincides with renovations that will close the Mauritshuis to the public.
The exhibition is organized in collaboration with Asahi Shimbun, and Martine Gosselink, the Mauritshuis director, says sharing the painting with Japanese audiences may be the last time.

History

Historical Context

Vermeer’s *Girl with a Pearl Earring*, painted around 1665, was acquired by Arnoldus Andries des Tombe in 1881 and later bequeathed to the Mauritshuis in 1902. Its international tour from 2012 to 2014 attracted 2.2 million visitors, enhancing global appreciation for Dutch art. The upcoming loan to Osaka's Nakanoshima Museum may mark its final exhibition in Japan, highlighting art's role in cultural exchange.

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Story summary

The Mauritshuis in The Hague will loan Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring to the Nakanoshima Museum of Art in Osaka from August 21 to September 27, 2026.
The loan coincides with renovations that will close the Mauritshuis to the public.
The exhibition is organized in collaboration with Asahi Shimbun, and Martine Gosselink, the Mauritshuis director, says sharing the painting with Japanese audiences may be the last time.

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