Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 428 works by Frans Hals in our catalogue
In short
Of all the originals Frans Hals left, the most famous is The Laughing Cavalier (1624), in the collection of the Wallace Collection, London. Close behind it come gypsy girl and Malle Babbe (1633). Our catalog holds 428 works by Frans Hals; the gallery has kept the 100 the world admires most, each shown with its date, its museum and its story.
"The Laughing Cavalier" by Frans Hals is an iconic masterpiece that captures the essence of the Dutch Golden Age. This captivating portrait exudes confidence and sophistication, making it a must-have for art lovers and collectors alike.
The gypsy girl is a work by the Dutch Golden Age painter Frans Hals. Executed between 1628 and 1630, this half-length portrait presents a young woman in a manner characteristic of the tronie genre. Rather than a formal commissioned portrait, the work functions as a study of facial expression and unusual costume.
In the vast tapestry of the Dutch Golden Age, few portraits capture the raw, unbridled spirit of humanity quite like Frans Hals’s Malle Babbe. This masterpiece serves as more than just a likeness; it is a window into the vibrant, often gritty, and deeply expressive soul of seventeenth-century Haarlem. The subject, famously known as "Malle Babbe" (Mad Babbe), is presented not with the stiff, aristocratic poise typical of formal portraiture,…
In the grand tapestry of the Dutch Golden Age, few threads shimmer with as much spontaneous energy as Frans Hals’s 1633 masterpiece, The Meagre Company. To gaze upon this work is to step directly into a bustling seventeenth-century Haarlem, where the air feels thick with the quiet confidence of the merchant elite. Unlike the static, posed portraits that often define the era, this painting captures an exquisite instantaneity—a fleeting breath…
Introduction to the Painting Frans Hals's Marriage Portrait of Isaac Massa and Beatrix van der Laen is a remarkable painting that showcases the artist's mastery of portraiture. Painted around 1622, this oil on canvas work measures 140 x 167 cm and is currently housed in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Background and Historical Significance The painting depicts Isaac Massa, a wealthy Dutch merchant, and his bride Beatrix van der Laen on…
To stand before Frans Hals I’s "Portrait of a Woman" is to encounter a moment suspended in time, a direct confrontation with a spirit that has endured since 1650. In an era when Antwerp and Haarlem pulsed with the nervous energy of religious and political transformation, this masterpiece emerged not merely as a record of a face, but as a profound exploration of human dignity. The subject, seated in a…
The scene depicts six men seated around a table, dressed in the formal attire of the period. Each figure possesses a distinct personality, conveyed through Hals' masterful use of light and shadow. Notice the subtle variations in their expressions – some are engaged in animated conversation, others appear contemplative, while still others maintain a dignified reserve. This isn’t merely a group portrait; it’s a tableau vivant, a fleeting moment frozen…
Introduction to the Artist and Painting Frans Hals, a prominent Dutch Golden Age painter, is renowned for his innovative techniques and evocative portraits. Among his notable works is 'Paulus Verschuur', an oil on canvas masterpiece measuring 119 x 97 cm. This painting is housed in the esteemed Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, United States. Historical Context and Significance Created during the 17th century, 'Paulus Verschuur' embodies the dynamic…
Frans Hals’s 1645 portrait of Willem Coenraetsz Coymans isn't merely a likeness; it’s a vibrant snapshot of a man, imbued with confidence and the subtle nuances of his social standing. Painted during the height of the Dutch Golden Age, this work transcends the conventions of formal portraiture, offering an intimate glimpse into the life of a Haarlem citizen. Hals masterfully captures not just physical appearance but also the very essence…
In the heart of the Dutch Golden Age, amidst the burgeoning mercantile prosperity of Haarlem, Frans Hals I captured more than just faces; he captured the very essence of human vitality. His masterpiece, Portrait of a Man (17), completed around 1622, serves as a profound window into an era defined by both immense wealth and deep psychological introspection. The subject, often identified as the affluent merchant Isaac Massa, does not…
The Merry Drinker1628
12
Married Couple in a Garden (detail)1622 · Rijksmuseum
13
Laughing Child1620 · Mauritshuis
14
Portrait of a Man Holding a Skull1611 · Barber Institute of Fine Arts
15
Malle Babbe1635 · Metropolitan Museum of Art
16
Portrait of a Man (29)1650 · Hermitage Museum
17
Married Couple in a Garden (detail)1622 · Rijksmuseum
18
Family Group in a Landscape1648 · National Gallery
19
Portrait of a Man (15)1640 · Wallraf-Richartz-Museum
20
The Drinker1626 · Musée Marmottan Monet
21
The Meagre Company (detail)1633 · Rijksmuseum
22
Boy with a Skull1628
23
Family Group in a Landscape (detail)1648 · Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
24
Jasper Schade1645 · National Gallery
25
Portrait of a Man1654 · Szépművészeti Múzeum
26
Portrait of Sara Andriesdr. Hessix1626 · Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
27
Portrait of a Woman1648 · The Louvre
28
Young Man with a Skull (Vanitas)1626 · National Gallery
29
René Descartes1649 · Statens Museum For Kunst
30
Regents of the Old Men's Almshouse (detail)1664 · Frans Halsmuseum
31
Shrovetide Revellers1615 · Metropolitan Museum of Art
32
Banquet of the Officers of the St Hadrian Civic Guard Company1627 · Frans Halsmuseum
33
Cornelia Claesdr Vooght1631 · Frans Halsmuseum
34
Portrait of a man1640 · The Kremer Collection
35
Willem Croes (detail)1662 · Alte Pinakothek
36
Buffoon Playing a Lute1623 · The Louvre
37
Portrait of a Man1660 · The Frick Collection
38
The Meagre Company (detail)1633 · Rijksmuseum
39
Regentesses of the Old Men's Almshouse (detail)1664 · Frans Hals Museum
40
Portrait of a Young Man Holding a Glove1650 · Hermitage Museum
41
Officers and Sergeants of the St Hadrian Civic Guard1633 · Frans Halsmuseum
42
Portrait of a Woman (11)1640 · Museum voor Schone Kunsten
43
Catharina Hooft with her Nurse1619 · Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
44
Michiel de Wael1628 · Taft Museum of Art
45
Portrait of a Man1660 · National Gallery of Denmark
46
Portrait of a Seated Woman1660 · Christ Church
47
Portrait of a Man (12)1634 · Szépművészeti Múzeum
48
Portrait of Frans Hals1648 · Museum of Art
49
Portrait of a Man1660 · Museum of Fine Arts
50
Paulus Verschuur1643 · Metropolitan Museum of Art
51
Portrait of a Bearded Man with a Ruff1625 · Metropolitan Museum of Art
52
The Meagre Company (detail)1633 · Rijksmuseum
53
Frans Hals1650 · Metropolitan Museum of Art
54
Regentesses of the Old Men's Almshouse (detail)1664 · Frans Halsmuseum
55
Peeckelhaering (detail)1628 · Державні художні колекції Касселя
56
Shrovetide Revellers (detail)1615 · Metropolitan Museum of Art
57
Peeckelhaering1628 · Державні художні колекції Касселя
58
Malle Babbe (detail)1633 · Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
59
Malle Babbe1633 · Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
60
Portrait of a Man (10)Statens Museum For Kunst
61
Portrait of a Man (13)1650 · Metropolitan Museum of Art
62
The Fisher Boy1630 · Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten
63
Portrait of an Elderly Man1627 · The Frick Collection
64
Singing Boy with a Flute1623 · Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
65
Mulatto (so-called)1628 · Museum der bildenden Künste
66
Portrait of a Man6Collection Six
67
A Young Man in a Large Hat1628 · National Gallery of Art
68
the laughing cavalier1624 · Wallace Collection
69
Daniel van Aken Playing the Violin1640 · Nationalmuseum
70
Portrait of Rene Descartes1649 · The Louvre
71
Portrait of Conradus Viëtor1644 · The Leiden Collection
72
Portrait of a Man1630 · Royal Collection
73
Portrait of Hendrik Swalmius1639 · Detroit Institute of Arts
74
Portrait of a Woman1639 · National Gallery
75
Jonker Ramp and his Sweetheart1623 · Metropolitan Museum of Art
76
Boy with a Lute1625 · Metropolitan Museum of Art
77
Pieter Cornelisz van der Morsch1616 · Carnegie Museum of Art
78
Nicolaes Woutersz van der Meer1631 · Frans Halsmuseum
79
Portrait of a man called Johannes Saeckma1635 · Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen
80
Portrait of a Woman1649 · Kunsthistorisches Museum
81
Portrait of a man1663 · Kunsthaus Zürich
82
F. Portrait of a man, before1660
83
Portrait of a Boy facing Left1620 · Philadelphia Museum of Art
84
Adriaen van Ostade1648 · National Gallery of Art
85
Portrait of Tieleman Roosterman1634 · Cleveland Museum of Art
86
Portrait of a Boy1620 · Philadelphia Museum of Art
87
Portrait of a young woman1660 · Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
88
Banquet in a Park1600 · Bode Museum
89
Herrenporträt1606
90
Head of a Boy Facing Left1620 · Museum Mayer van den Bergh
91
Portrait of a General1620 · National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design
92
Fragment of a young boy1621 · Kimbell Art Museum
93
Portrait of a lady with a landscape background1618
94
Portrait of a Woman1638 · Städel Museum
95
Portrait of a Man Standing1619 · Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister im Schloss Wilhelmshöhe
96
Portrait of a man1612 · Brooklyn Museum
97
Catharina Hooft with her Nurse (detail)1619
98
Family Portrait in a Landscape1620 · Viscount Boyne
99
Portrait of Pieter Bor with Quill and Book1634 · Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen
100
Portrait of a man with a beard and ruff collar1633
The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.
The 8 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Frans Hals | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Metropolitan Museum of Art |
New York | 20 | Portrait of a Woman, Paulus Verschuur, Malle Babbe |
 Rijksmuseum |
Amsterdam | 16 | The Meagre Company (detail), Marriage Portrait of Isaac Massa and Beatrix van der Laen, Married Couple in a Garden (detail) |
 Frans Halsmuseum |
Haren | 12 | Regents of the Old Men's Almshouse (detail), Banquet of the Officers of the St Hadrian Civic Guard Company, Cornelia Claesdr Vooght |
 Staatliche Museen zu Berlin |
Berlin | 7 | Catharina Hooft with her Nurse, Malle Babbe (detail), Malle Babbe |
 National Gallery of Art |
Washington | 8 | Willem Coenraetsz Coymans, A Young Man in a Large Hat, Adriaen van Ostade |
 National Gallery |
London | 8 | Family Group in a Landscape, Young Man with a Skull (Vanitas), Portrait of a Woman |
 The Louvre |
Paris | 4 | Portrait of a Woman, Buffoon Playing a Lute, Portrait of Rene Descartes |
 Frans Hals Museum |
Haren | 11 | Regents of the St Elizabeth Hospital of Haarlem, Regentesses of the Old Men's Almshouse (detail) |
Pick a decade to see the original that defines it.
The scene unfolds within a lush, wooded parkland where the air seems to hum with the quiet energy of a gathering. In this work, titled Banquet in a Park, the artist Frans Hals captures a moment of aristocratic leisure. Under the shade of a large canopy or a draped cloth suspended between the overarching trees, a group of well-dressed individuals gathers to enjoy the afternoon. The atmosphere feels alive with…
In the quiet, contemplative depths of the Dutch Golden Age, few images command the viewer's attention with such visceral intensity as Frans Hals I’s “Portrait of a Man Holding a Skull.” Painted in 1611, this masterpiece serves as much more than a mere likeness of a gentleman; it is a profound, psychological encounter that bridges the gap between the living and the eternal. The subject, an impeccably dressed man adorned…
"The Laughing Cavalier" by Frans Hals is an iconic masterpiece that captures the essence of the Dutch Golden Age. This captivating portrait exudes confidence and sophistication, making it a must-have for art lovers and collectors alike.
In the vast tapestry of the Dutch Golden Age, few portraits capture the raw, unbridled spirit of humanity quite like Frans Hals’s Malle Babbe. This masterpiece serves as more than just a likeness; it is a window into the vibrant, often gritty, and deeply expressive soul of seventeenth-century Haarlem. The subject, famously known as "Malle Babbe" (Mad Babbe), is presented not with the stiff, aristocratic poise typical of formal portraiture,…
The scene depicts six men seated around a table, dressed in the formal attire of the period. Each figure possesses a distinct personality, conveyed through Hals' masterful use of light and shadow. Notice the subtle variations in their expressions – some are engaged in animated conversation, others appear contemplative, while still others maintain a dignified reserve. This isn’t merely a group portrait; it’s a tableau vivant, a fleeting moment frozen…
To stand before Frans Hals I’s "Portrait of a Woman" is to encounter a moment suspended in time, a direct confrontation with a spirit that has endured since 1650. In an era when Antwerp and Haarlem pulsed with the nervous energy of religious and political transformation, this masterpiece emerged not merely as a record of a face, but as a profound exploration of human dignity. The subject, seated in a…
Frans Hals’ “Regents of the Old Men’s Almshouse (detail)” isn’t merely a portrait; it’s a carefully constructed tableau of civic responsibility, quiet contemplation, and the subtle drama inherent in human interaction. Painted in 1664, this intimate study – a fragment pulled from a larger composition – offers an unparalleled window into the social fabric of Haarlem during the Dutch Golden Age. Hals, renowned for his ability to capture fleeting moments…
The Laughing Cavalier (1624), Wallace Collection, London. gypsy girl and Malle Babbe (1633) come next.
44 years old: The Laughing Cavalier dates from 1624, and Frans Hals was born in 1580.
The Laughing Cavalier, gypsy girl, Malle Babbe, The Meagre Company (detail), Marriage Portrait of Isaac Massa and Beatrix van der Laen, Portrait of a Woman, Regents of the St Elizabeth Hospital of Haarlem, Paulus Verschuur, Willem Coenraetsz Coymans and Portrait of a Man (17). The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.
Our catalog holds 428 works by Frans Hals, dated from 1600 to 1664.
Mostly in Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam) and Frans Halsmuseum (Haren). The museum table above lists them all.
In 1620s: 30 of the 100 works on this page were made then, The Laughing Cavalier among them.
On this page, the earliest is Banquet in a Park (1600) and the latest Regents of the Old Men's Almshouse (detail) (1664).
Portraiture (41), Portrait (29) and 17th century (21), across the 100 works on this page.
Oil On Canvas, for 78 of the 100 works on this page.
Dutch golden age and Baroque, judging by the originals on this page.
Portrait of a Woman, Paulus Verschuur and Malle Babbe: the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York holds 11 of the works on this page.
Frans Hals I was a Dutch painter born in Antwerp, Belgium, around 1580. Though his early life remains somewhat shrouded in mystery, he rose to become one of the most important figures of the Dutch Golden Age, celebrated for his innovative portraiture and genre scenes.
Details surrounding Hals’s formative years are scarce. It is believed he received initial artistic training in Antwerp, a prominent center for painting at the time. However, due to religious and political turmoil, his family relocated to Haarlem in the Netherlands. He became a member of the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke in 1610, marking the formal beginning of his professional career.
Hals distinguished himself through a remarkably fresh and spontaneous style. Unlike many of his contemporaries who favored meticulous detail, Hals employed a loose and expressive brushstroke. This technique imbued his paintings with a sense of immediacy and vitality, capturing the personality and character of his subjects in a way that was revolutionary for its time.
While Hals produced a wide range of works, he is best known for his portraits. Some of his most celebrated paintings include:
He also created compelling genre scenes – depictions of everyday life – that offered glimpses into Dutch society.
Determining Hals’s direct influences is challenging, as he developed a highly individual style. However, it's likely he was aware of the work of earlier Flemish painters like Pieter Bruegel the Elder. His innovative approach to portraiture profoundly impacted subsequent generations of artists.
Frans Hals I played a crucial role in shaping Dutch painting during the Golden Age. His work reflects the burgeoning prosperity and individualism of the Netherlands at that time. He moved away from rigid formality towards a more naturalistic and expressive style, leaving an enduring legacy on the art world.
Today, his paintings are highly sought after and can be found in major museums worldwide, including the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem, which houses the largest collection of his work. His contributions continue to inspire artists and captivate audiences centuries later.
