On Wednesday 8th of May, our students had the honor of visiting our official partner the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
Checking it like a historian at Rijks is part of our art activities in school, Eerde Students from IMYC to Pre IB programs delved into the world of Frans Hals through a unique exhibition showcasing approximately fifty works from both national and international top collections.
Remarkably innovative, engaging, and courageous, Frans Hals emerged as one of the most influential painters of the 17th century. His distinctive, free-flowing painting technique left such an indelible mark.
Frans Hals was born in Antwerp between 1582. By 1610, he had joined the Haarlem painters’ guild, establishing himself as an independent artist with students and assistants, including Judith Leyster. Renowned for his “rough style,” Hals garnered fame, admiration, and occasional criticism, predominantly for his masterful portraits and militia pieces. He died in 1666 and was laid to rest in Haarlem’s Grote Kerk.
During the tour we gathered few wonderful facts on arts back in 1700’s such as :
- In the 1700s, it was customary for a husband and wife to acknowledge their marriage by hanging their portraits together facing each other, with the man’s portrait on the right and the woman’s on the left. If one spouse passed away, the arrangement was reversed.
- Frans Hals was renowned in the 1700s for his spontaneous brushstrokes, capturing authentic expressions “smile” with remarkable skill.
- The depiction of groups in Hals’ paintings was a costly endeavor, with each head costing approximately 65 guilders back in the days.
- Capturing a smiling face on paint is no easy feat, as it involves the movement of around 100 muscles. However, Frans Hals had a remarkable talent for capturing this joyful human emotion.
Following the tour, Rijkmuseum hosts a special workshop for all our students. We all received sketches of Frans Hals’ paintings to practice our own artistic skills.
A whole full day checking it like a historian tour at the Rijks!
