Hals-Rembrandt exhibition opens in Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem

An exhibition showcasing the works of Frans Hals and Rembrandt van Rijn opens at the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem on Friday. The exhibit is intended to highlight both the similarities and differences in the two Dutch masters’ styles and techniques.

Both Rembrandt and Hals are celebrated for their distinctively loose painting style and their lifelike depiction of people ranging from regents to children. “Yet, there are differences,” the museum said. “Rembrandt’s approach was one of exploration, layering paint to reach the very essence of his subjects. Hals, by contrast, appears to have worked with greater speed and precision, resulting in paintings that function like snapshots of reality.”

The exhibition is possible through “an exceptionally generous loan” of five paintings from the Rijksmuseum, the Frans Hals Museum said. It presents 19 paintings by Hals and Rembrandt side by side, looking at how they painted children, music, group portraits, and other subjects.

“A highlight is the inclusion of Rembrandt’s The Syndics of the Drapers’ Guild (1662), which bears striking similarities to the regent portraits by Hals,” the museum said.

The Hals-Rembrandt exhibit will be in the Frans Hals Museum from November 6 until February 28, 2027. During the exhibit, the museum will open as early as 10:00 a.m. to give visitors time and space to enjoy the masterpieces.