Frans Hals

Frans Hals (1582-1666) was a Dutch Golden Age portrait painter who lived and worked in Haarlem.

He is notable for his loose painterly brushwork, helping introduce this lively style of painting into Dutch art, as well as playing an important role in the evolution of 17th Century group portraiture.

The author sketches the biography of the painter with imaginative insights into character, while exploring the curious biographical and artistic absences of Hals’ timeline.

In general, the author makes several clever and convincing arguments as to Rembrandt’s influence on Hals, and deals with several criticisms of Hals’ highly technical portraiture.

The tradition of portraiture for Dutch shooting clubs is also considered at length, and an interesting discussion of the commercial demands of group portraiture on the artist is made in reference to Hals Doelen portraits.

The book deals with Hals’ work in the various stages of his artistic career, and with engaging descriptions of the pictures, explores the evolution of his style.

The book is an interesting and lively discussion; not just with regards to Hals, but as a document of contemporary style and opinion in art history.

This book is an engaging early 20th Century exploration of the artistic career of the Dutch master Frans Hals the Elder.