Merrymakers at Shrovetide
ca. 1616-17
Frans Hals captures the chaotic, booze-fueled energy of a Shrovetide carnival in this lively 17th-century scene. At the center, a grinning figure in a flamboyant red and white outfit gestures wildly, surrounded by a rowdy crowd of drinkers and sausage-eaters. The loose, energetic brushstrokes make the whole scene feel like it's moving and shouting right off the canvas. Painted around 1616, it's a perfect snapshot of Dutch Golden Age revelry right before the solemn fasting of Lent began. Today, you can find this raucous party hanging in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Location: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
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