Set in 17th century Holland, "Girl with a Pearl Earring" tells the imagined, intriguing and highly seductive story behind one of Vermeer's greatest and most enigmatic paintings. Griet (Johansson), a tilemaker's daughter, is forced by tragedy to become a maid for the master painter (Firth). Fascinated by his craft, she soon shows an aptitude for helping in his studio, where she finds herself drawn to the man and his world of color and light. As she becomes part of his work, their growing intimacy spreads disruption and jealousy within his ordered household and beyond, fuelling a scandal which threatens to ruin them all.