Pandora's Box

I loved the book Girl with the Pearl Earring. The film was remarkably like the book, but of course, left out enchanting details such as the smell of meat on the butcher son's hands. But film can so rarely capture those magical details found in great literature.

As both an artist and a model, I find tales such as this one - depicting a sexual chemistry between model and artist to be somewhat baffling. When I have been drawing or painting from live models, I am usually so lost in my head that I have to remind myself that the model is a human being who might need a break or to warm up for a bit. However, on several occasions, I've looked at my finished piece and thought - "Wow! How erotic that turned out!" But at the time I was creating, I wasn't conscious of any sexual energy in the air. Whether this eroticism was created entirely by the model or at least partially in my subconscious, I'm not sure I can discern.

In any case, the story of this sensual relation between an artist and his model was pretty hot - though more so in the book than on DVD. If you're only going to do one or the other of the two - definitely read the book!