Frans Hals at the National Gallery

When thinking about Dutch artists, the first names to crop up might understandably be Rembrandt or Vermeer. However, the National Gallery’s upcoming exhibition decides to centre their equally distinguished contemporary: Frans Hals.

The National Gallery’s Frans Hals is the largest exhibition of the Baroque painter’s work in 30 years. Known for his unparalleled lively characterisation, Hals’ work is individual in its ability to capture the dynamic joviality of his subjects.

The main attraction of the 50-piece retrospective is the ‘The Laughing Cavalier’ (1624) pictured above. It is the first time the portrait has ever been released from the Wallace Collection for exhibition.

The exhibition is divided into several sections according to themes and chronology in Hals’ work. The Family Ties room is particularly striking for its reuniting of long-separated pendants of couples, allowing viewers to fully immerse themselves in the subjects’ relationships and lives.

Frans Hals at the National Gallery is open September 30 – January 21. Tickets are available here.

X:@NationalGallery
Instagram: @nationalgallery

Words by Maya Dhillon

Family Group in a Landscape (1645-48)