Frans Hals

In October, art lovers visited the special exhibition on the painter Frans Hals in the Picture Gallery.

On display were 75 works by this outstanding 17th century Dutch painter. He not only painted expressive portraits of the upper classes of Haarlem, but was also the first Dutch artist to depict social outsiders as individuals in portrait format.

His loose, free painting style was explained to visitors and it was shown how the artist's painting style makes his subjects appear lively, open and approachable.