Frans Hals Scholars Debate Artwork Attribution
A divide has emerged among specialists over the total number of autograph works by Frans Hals as a major exhibition on the Dutch Old Master opens at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
Frans Hals Exhibition and Attribution Debate
The Rijksmuseum is hosting a major exhibition on Frans Hals, displaying 48 of what the museum's lead curator, Friso Lammertse, believes to be the finest works out of a total of 220. However, Claus Grimm, a German specialist on Hals, only accepts 120 fully autograph works and argues that many of the paintings attributed to Hals were actually done by other artists.
This divide in opinion regarding artwork attribution is dividing the Dutch art historical establishment, with the Rijksmuseum having the support of the National Gallery and Berlin State Museums, while Grimm has the backing of the Netherlands Institute of Art History and the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem.
One of the paintings being questioned by Grimm is the Portrait of a Couple, owned by the Rijksmuseum, which is considered one of Hals' most beloved works. While the Rijksmuseum believes it to be a marriage portrait from 1622, Grimm argues that it was painted around 1627 and that the landscape in the painting was done by Pieter de Molijn, another artist from Haarlem.
The Regentesses of the Old Men’s Alms House
Another disputed painting is the Regentesses of the Old Men’s Alms House, which is currently on loan from the Frans Hals Museum. Lammertse regards it as one of Hals' great late works, while Grimm believes that most of the painting was done by Hals' son or his workshop.
The deteriorated condition of the painting makes it difficult to reach a verdict on the attribution. Grimm has published a visual reconstruction of how he believes the painting might have looked when it left Hals' studio, but the Frans Hals Museum still accepts it as authentic.
The Royal Collection's Portrait of a Man, on loan to the National Gallery, is also questioned by Grimm. He believes that the painting is partly by Hals and partly by another artist, while Lammertse considers it fully authentic. The debate over Hals' works has been longstanding, with differing opinions among art historians over the years.
Challenges in Attribution and Comparison to Rembrandt
The challenge with attributing works to Hals lies in the lack of technical examination compared to artists like Rembrandt. Hals also had talented pupils in his studio, making it difficult to distinguish their work from his. Additionally, Hals' paintings can vary in quality, with some portraits being less successful.
The debate over Hals' works is similar to the study of Rembrandt's paintings. In both cases, scholars have had to reassess the number of works attributed to the artists over the years. Hals' oeuvre is still being explored, and further research and analysis may shed more light on the attribution of his paintings.
Despite the attribution debate, the Rijksmuseum exhibition showcases some of the finest works by Frans Hals, leaving a lasting impression on visitors with its captivating images of love and affection from 17th-century Dutch painting.
