Frans Hals catalogue

Frans Hals (1582/4–1666) was one of the greatest painters of the Dutch seventeenth century. He introduced an entirely new style of portraiture, his virtuoso brushwork bringing about nothing less than a revolution in painting.

He excelled in capturing his sitters as lively and true to life, sometimes even laughing or smiling, and looking remarkably relaxed. Hals’s contemporaries were astounded by his ability to paint people so realistically that they really did appear to be breathing. Among his Dutch colleagues his loose, experimental handling of the brush was matched only by Rembrandt.

This lavishly illustrated publication presents a fresh view of this astonishing artist, and places him and his work firmly in the context of his day. The authors have drawn on new research to sketch a picture of his family, social circle, studio and patrons. There is a close focus on his portraiture, from his intimate rendering of couples and families to his spectacular group portraits of civic guard companies. For the first time there is an examination of humour and laughter in his work, as well as of the prints that were made after his paintings. The impressive close-ups of details serve to underscore his exceptional talent.