Portrait of Aletta Hanemans
1625
Feast your eyes on that magnificent, stiff white ruff! Frans Hals painted this 19-year-old beauty, Aletta Hanemans, in 1625, capturing the absolute height of Dutch Golden Age fashion with her shimmering pink skirt and heavily embroidered gold bodice. Though she stands quite formally against a plain backdrop, Hals's signature loose, energetic brushstrokes give her a lively, almost breathing presence. She delicately holds a pair of gloves—a common symbol of refinement—while her direct, confident gaze challenges the viewer across the centuries.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
- Material
- Canvas
Location: National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
Views: 13