Girl with a Pearl Earring (1665) by Johannes Vermeer, also know as Girl with a Turban, was widely exhibited throughout the 20th century, making it one of the world's most recognizable paintings. Technically not a portrait, it is a "tronie" - not intended to depict a specific person, but to emphasize facial expression and the artist's skill at lifelike representation. The dark background was originally a deep green glaze, now faded, and ultramarine was used in the headscarf, the most expensive blue pigment available in the 17th century. The painting shows a European girl wearing Turkish dress with what appears to be a very large pearl as an earring. As there is no visible hook on the earring, it is speculated to be a visual illusion used to portray light and dimension, or rather than pearl, the reflection and size indicate the earring may actually be polished tin. The painting's creation was fictionalized as a historical novel in 1999, a play in 2008, and a movie in 2003 starring Colin Firth as Vermeer and Scarlett Johansson as the girl.