Description of the picture:
Laughing boy – Frans Hals. Wood, oil. 30.5 x 30.5 cm
Frans Hals is not only an outstanding 17th-century Dutch portrait painter, but also a loving father with many children. As you know, he was married, married for about half a century and had eleven children. And, apparently, the marriage was very happy, judging by their children – they are always ridiculous, mobile and cheerful. Hals loves his children very much, is proud of them and admires.
Cute, funny, perky faces of the artist’s sons and daughters often appear on his canvases. And they are very rarely serious. See how unique charm and splashing energy of fun the work of “Laughing Boy” blows.
It seems that all the air around the boy moves and vibrates from a child’s infectious laugh. Stroking the collared hair and the collar slightly moving to one side, it seems that the artist barely managed to catch a running fidget for posing. A sparkling look and a wide smile lead the viewer into emotion and admiration for the childish, naive, sincere and, probably, sonorous laugh.
In this small sketch, Hals, as always, perfectly conveys the shadows and highlights from the light falling on the reddened face of a joyful and reckless little boy. Brush strokes are wide, fluent, inherent in the style of the painter. And they perfectly convey the texture of the tissues and the naturalness of the hair. Warm, light, golden hues only emphasize the delicate color of the baby face.
Incidentally, the “Dutch” age of painting is distinguished by a large number of humorous pictures with pictures of fun gentlemen and ladies, children, military men and just revelers. But perhaps Frans Hals did it best. It would seem that facial expressions are such an elusive moment, but he was instantly grasped by the artist. The emotion is so lively and convincing that it simply infects the author himself and, of course, the viewer."