"The Joyful Master: Frans Hals' Laughter Lights Up London's National Gallery"
A major retrospective exhibition at the National Gallery in London and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam aims to reintroduce the Dutch painter Frans Hals to a larger public and elevate him to the same level as renowned artists like Rembrandt and Vermeer. The exhibition showcases around 50 works, including Hals's famous portraits and tronies (anonymous figures), highlighting his mastery in capturing laughter and joy in paintings, a rarity during his time. Hals's loose brushwork and expressive strokes, combined with his ability to create a sense of spontaneity, have influenced artists such as the Impressionists. The exhibition seeks to emphasize Hals's importance in the history of Western painting and rekindle appreciation for his work.
