Hals-Rembrandt

Two grandmasters

Frans Hals (1582/83, Antwerp – 1666, Haarlem) and Rembrandt van Rijn (1606, Leiden – 1669, Amsterdam) are the two masters of 17th-century portraiture. Both are renowned for their loose brush strokes and ability to depict people as they truly were. They didn’t just paint rich regents, they also produced realistic portraits of children, actors and musicians. Their style is quite similar but also very different. Rembrandt was always experimenting and kept adding layers to reach the essence of his subjects. Frans Hals seemed to have a more confident and swift style of painting, resulting in paintings that seem to be snapshots of reality.

Side by side

In this exhibition, the Frans Hals Museum presents a number of unique combinations of works by the two most famous portrait painters of the Dutch 17th century. This slow-looking exhibition gives visitors the chance to carefully examine paintings by Rembrandt and Frans Hals. Don't miss this unique opportunity to experience the magic of Hals and Rembrandt up close.

Slow looking is an approach to make you look more closely at your surroundings, for example at a work of art. It is therefore about looking more closely, with attention and a desire to see more than just the first impression. This way, you see more details and dive deeper into the meaning of an artwork.

Due to the expected crowds, it is mandatory to reserve an online ticket for this exhibition in advance. Groups will be able to book a visit to this exhibition from January 2026 onwards.