Frans Hals
Franz Hals was a notable artist of the Baroque style in Holland during the seventeenth century. However, unlike some other, he had a financial unstable life. Franz started his career as a restorer of religious arts, then changed to portraiture when the market for religious theme started declining. Compare to the painting from previous decades, or even some of the same time, which felt like that the model had stayed for hours in a same neutral pose patiently; the portraits of Hals ware like camera snapshots that captured people “at a characteristic moment”, bringing emotional feeling into the canvas. This can be observed easily in many of his work, like “The Lute Player” in 1624, or “The Banquet of the Officers of the St George Militia Company in 1616”, a group portrait featuring a militia company at their diner hall. In addition, Hals’s portraits did not seem to be symmetrical as earlier ones often were. On the first glance, it could be perceived as a quick and easy-going approach; but actually, this impression could only be achieved through a very careful and calculated effort, to be able to keep the balance staying without following any visible rule. I personally love his new art style of simplify all the details, and using soft brush stroke. All these elements had made his work look natural and we can clearly distinguished between a low class citizen and high class people in his works.
