Frans Hals

Dutch painter
Dutch, (ca. 1581–1666)
Dutch portrait artist whose unique style of loose brushstrokes was labeled 'unfinished' by some at the time, but whose work is now regarded as equally important to Rembrandt's. Hals painted 'wet on wet'; that coupled with his brushwork and his powerful illumination of his subjects' head and face, his portraits seem more animated than others. Although the reception to his work was often mixed, Hals had many local commissions. Later works appear to be more smooth in texture with more aristocratic poses, most likely due to public taste at the time. Hals had five sons who were painters: Harmen, Frans Hals the younger, Reynier, Nicolaes and Johannes.