Portrait of a Couple, Probably Isaac Abrahamsz Massa and Beatrix van der Laen
c. 1622
Frans Hals breaks all the rules of stiff, formal portraiture here by painting a couple lounging casually under a tree in 1622. The man sports a ridiculously oversized black hat and a cheeky grin, while his wife dazzles in a massive, crisp white ruff collar that looks like a giant paper plate. Instead of staring blankly ahead, they gaze directly at the viewer with a relaxed intimacy that was revolutionary for the Dutch Golden Age, making it the 17th-century equivalent of a cool, candid couple photo.
Location: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
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