Of all the Dutch masters of the seventeenth century, Frans Hals ranks among the truly great. His virtuoso brushwork and the spontaneity of his portraits, in which his sitters seem hardly to pose at all, continues to attract art lovers to this day. To celebrate the artist, the Frans Hals Museum is hosting a symposium on Frans Hals. Subjects will include the definition of his oeuvre, recent insights into his clientele, physical aspects of his paintings, as well as Hals’s past and present reputation and relevance.

To celebrate the enduring fascination of his work, London’s National Gallery will host a major retrospective in the autumn of 2023, which will move to Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum in early 2024, in collaboration with the Frans Hals Museum. In preparation for this spectacular gathering of masterpieces, the Frans Hals Museum will host a symposium on Frans Hals in Haarlem on 8 (morning and afternoon) and 9 (morning) January 2023, for art historians and other professionals.

On Sunday 8 January, Christopher Atkins, John Bezold, Pieter Biesboer, Frans Grijzenhout and Anna Tummers will be among the specialists and scholars presenting papers on various related topics at the Philharmonie in Haarlem. All talks will be in English. Subjects will include the definition of Hals’s oeuvre, recent insights into his clientele, physical aspects of his paintings, as well as the artist’s past and present reputation and relevance.

Day two of the symposium: Monday, 9 January, will take place at the Frans Hals Museum (location HOF), which will open exclusively for participants. Guests are invited to view our current exhibitions: Newcomers: Flemish artists in Haarlem 1580-1630 and Frans Hals. All Civic Guard Pieces which feature an additional eight Hals works alongside the fifteen on permanent display in the museum. The presentations will be followed by an opportunity to discuss various topics in front of the actual paintings.

Details
For art historians and other professionals
Location day 1: Philharmonie, Haarlem
Location day 2: Frans Hals Museum HOF, Haarlem

This symposium is supported by the Rijksmuseum.

The tickets for the symposium are sold out.

Curious about the programme? Click on the Programme button below.

Do you have dietary requirements or other questions? Send an email by clicking the Questions button below.