A large Frans Hals exhibition is taking place at the Rijksmuseum from February 16 to June 9. During this time, our Laughing Boy will be residing in Amsterdam for a few months.
The Mauritshuis still has four paintings by the Haarlem master in its collection. During the exhibition at the Rijksmuseum, these portraits can be collectively admired on one wall at the Mauritshuis in The Hague. It's the perfect opportunity to closely appreciate the unique and nimble painting style of one of the most renowned Dutch masters.
You can find these paintings within our permanent exhibition.
About Frans Hals
Frans Hals is one of the most famous and most extraordinary Dutch painters of the 17th century. He painted lively, sometimes even cheerful, portraits of people from all levels of society: important people, naughty children and even drunks or people who had been declared crazy. Hals had a unique ability to bring his paintings to life with colour and broad brushstrokes. His skillful style inspired the French impressionists, who made many copies of his paintings in the 19th century.
Hals was born in Antwerp, but his family moved to Haarlem when he was four. He was trained as a painter by artist and biographer Karel van Mander (1548-1606). Hals married twice and had fourteen children, but many of them died while they were still young.
With his unique style of painting, he had a great influence on other artists in Haarlem, like Judith Leyster (1609-1660) and Johannes Verspronck (1600-1662). Adriaen Brouwer (1605-1638), Adriaen van Ostade (1610-1685) and five of his sons trained with Hals.
Despite having many customers and receiving great praise for his work, Hals had money problems his whole life. After his death he was buried in a place of honour in St Bavo’s Church in Haarlem.
