Frans Hals

Before writing this I wanted to check when the exhibition ends, and to check that I got the spelling of Hals’ name right.

So I googled, and the first thing that came up was a review in the Guardian of 27 Sep 2023 by Jonathan Jones. And this is what he has to say in a review that he gave two stars (out of five) and entitled ‘Frans Hals review – boring, lifeless portraits with flamboyant facial hair‘

Comprehensive collection of the 17th-century painter’s work aims to place him alongside Rembrandt and Vermeer, but his technically brilliant paintings are weirdly soulless.

I think he must have had a bad day because I thought to the contrary – that Hals had an incredibly good eye for drawing out character in his portraits. I snapped a few with my phone, and this one will suffice to either attract you to Hals or not. I don’t think the painting has a title. The information panel says ‘Portrait of a Man, possibly a Clergyman – About 1658 – Oil on wood – Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

I think the sitter is an absolutely believable person. I feel I know something of his character and way of looking at the world. In short, if I could do that I imagine I would want to paint all day long.

The exhibition is at the National Gallery until 31 January 2024.