Frans Hals (c. 1580-1666)

Country: Netherlands
Style: Baroque
Teachers: Karel van Mander
Major Works:

Interesting Stuff: A biggie in the field of portraiture, surprisingly little is known about Frans Hals. We do know that he had at least two wives and ten sons, five of which were also painters. Add the two painter brothers of Frans' to the mix, and a telephone call to the Hals house turns into an Abbott and Costello type affair: 

"could I talk to Mr. Hals please"

   "which one"

"Mr. Hals the painter"

   "which one?"

"The one who has a painter father."

   "Which one?......"

After four hours of variations on this theme a phone call would end in insanity, death, or both (hmmm, kind of like every H.P. Lovecraft story... but I digress). Fortunately, there were no telephones at this period in time.

Hals was known as a keen portaitist in his day, and his stature has only grown since then. Strangely enough, even though portraits were in high demand during this period, he still died almost penniless.

One of the things academicians always point to in his portraits is his uncanny ability to render people as individuals instead of idealized models or forms. Bringing this "psychological insight" into his subjects onto the canvas was quite a jump forward from the stately portraits that came before. It also gives us the chance to play the fun-filled game of...


Guess What These People Are Thinking!

  1. I'm a little teapot...
    where are the other musketeers?
  2. I wish I had a scalp like his
  3. I wonder if I got that part on Moonlighting.
  4. I hope nobody is making rabbit ears behind me
    Am I seated on a cheese?
    I hope nobody can smell that.
  5. I am soooooo baked...
    OH MAN that reeks!
  6. I'm so alone
    Uhmm, Mr. Hals can you like hurry up with this portrait? I can't hold it anymore, so hurry up or the guy in front of me gets it!
  7. I wonder if I'll make the callbacks for Mr. French
    Waltzing in portraits is really going to catch on
    Does my butt look too big?
    Oh my god! Something is attached to my behind and it's moving!
    To be or not to be
  8. Ooof, why did I have that last taco?
    If only the painter could see the 3 foot tall space alien standing behind everyone
  9. You're my best friend Al
    I wonder if he notices I'm checking out his package.
  10. If I lean a little further, I can snag this guy's wallet
    Kiss me you fool!
  11. I am the MAN!
    I will kiss you as soon as that odd little man finishes his silly little portrait.
    I may have a bouquet on my butt, but im still MANLY !
  12. That guy's taking my beer!
  13. Hey, check out this guy's butt
    Pull my finger
    Is he seriously wearing pansies and ribbons on his behind ?!
  14. Why, there is a picture of his butt next to the definition of booty in the dictionary
    Actually, I looked it up. it appears to be crysanthimums.