Tracy Chevalier’s 1999 novel, “Girl With A Pearl Earring,” delves into famous words the life of the girl in Johannes Vermeer’s renowned painting. The book was adapted into a 2003 film with Scarlett Johansson and Colin Firth, and a 2008 play by David Joss Buckley, starring Adrian Dunbar as Vermeer.
Peter Greenaway’s 2007 film “Nightwatching,” featuring Martin Freeman, drew inspiration from Rembrandt’s painting “The Night Watch,” which allegedly identified a murderer.
Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s musical “Sunday In The Park With George” is based on Georges Seurat’s painting “A Sunday Afternoon On The Island Of La Grande Jatte.” The musical, which debuted in 1984, centres on the painter, his great-grandson, and his quest for artistic inspiration. One song lyric states: “There are worse things than staring at the water as you’re posing for a picture being painted by your lover, in the middle of the summer.”
Girl With a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer, C.1665, Mysterious Masterpiece of the Dutch Golden Age. pic.twitter.com/OnOh1OTcun
— Academia Aesthetics (@AcademiaAesthe1) September 23, 2021
Susan Jones, Abersoch, Gwynedd
QUESTION: What ‘trendy’ words had already become obsolete by the time they were included in major dictionaries?
The Oxford English Dictionary often picks Words of the Year that fade quickly. ‘Rizz’, meaning sexual charisma, was chosen for 2023, but it’s rarely used, even by teenagers. ‘Goblin mode’ from 2022, referring to unapologetically self-indulgent behaviour, is also seldom heard. The 2021 word, ‘vax,’ is phasing out.
No word was chosen in 2020, and 2019’s ‘climate emergency’ feels like hyperbole. Earlier selections like ‘youthquake’ and ‘bovvered’ were also short-lived.
Other forgotten terms include ‘bae’ (one’s significant other) and ‘yeet’ (exclamation for something cool or amazing). However, ‘stan’, meaning an over-enthusiastic fan, remains popular, influenced by Eminem’s 2000 song.
The Girl with a Pearl Earring is pretty cool, but what’s EVEN cooler is the cat and the ducks with pearl earrings 🤩 pic.twitter.com/vPZvv8Y57d
— Ivyy✨TROP ambassador (@rukiasbankaii) August 18, 2024
Charles Watt, Glasgow
QUESTION: Does anyone remember Elmo stores? Are there other defunct supermarkets?
Morris Harris ‘Mossy’ Vanger (1909-2004), the nephew of Tesco founder Sir Jack Cohen, started Elmo. After working for Cohen, Mossy launched his own chain post-war. ‘Elmo’ combined Mossy’s name and his wife Elkie’s.
Elmo grew to 28 stores in East Anglia and southern England. In 1962, South African retailer O.K. Bazaars bought Elmo, later selling it to Fine Fare for £1 million. Eventually, Elmo became part of Tesco through various acquisitions.
Another nephew of Cohen, Sidney Ingram, created Anthony Jackson Foodfare, which also became part of Tesco. Cohen assisted family friend Michael Kaye in founding Pricerite, later bought by British American Tobacco (BAT).
Francis J. Wallis of Rainham, Essex, founded Wallis, which grew to over 100 stores before BAT purchased it in 1977, merging it into their International Stores chain.
By 1987, Argyll Foods plc was the fourth-largest supermarket operator in the UK, acquiring several small supermarkets like Presto, Hintons, and Supervalu. That year, it also acquired Safeway Inc’s UK subsidiary, leading to a rebranding as Safeway plc.
Pauline Scott, Ipswich, Suffolk
In 1967, after completing A-levels, I worked at the Elmo supermarket in Newmarket. The job was a welcome break from the stress of exams. I enjoyed stacking shelves, operating tills, and driving a small delivery van, which I nicknamed the ‘Elmobile.’
On Mondays, a large delivery truck would arrive to restock the warehouse. The driver would toss boxes of canned goods to staff, who would then throw them across the pavement, trying to avoid pedestrians. This often resulted in bruised forearms, though there was only one notable accident involving a box of vinegar bottles, which left a lasting smell.
Elmo’s own-label products were called ‘Pot O’ Gold.’ The store name eventually changed to Fine Fare.
Kevin Ames, North Shields
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Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What is the novel ‘Girl With A Pearl Earring’ about?
It’s about the life of the girl in Vermeer’s famous portrait.
Who starred in the film adaptation of ‘Girl With A Pearl Earring’?
Scarlett Johansson and Colin Firth starred in the 2003 film.
What inspired the musical ‘Sunday In The Park With George’?
It was inspired by Georges Seurat’s painting ‘A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte’.
What does the term ‘rizz’ mean?
‘Rizz’ signifies sexual charisma.
What were Elmo stores?
Elmo was a supermarket chain founded by Morris Harris ‘Mossy’ Vanger.