HAARLEM.- Boy Playing the Violin and Girl Singing (c. 1628) by Frans Hals are on display at the Frans Hals Museum from 16 July to 7 September 2025.

Now on show in Haarlem

The two paintings were recently purchased by the Frans Hals Museum and the Mauritshuis at an auction in New York. Visitors are able to see them at the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem, the town where they were painted, from 16 July to 7 September 2025. They will then move on to the Mauritshuis. A year later, on 5 November 2026, the children will return to Haarlem for an exhibition entitled Hals – Rembrandt, which will be at the Frans Hals Museum until 28 February 2027.

Possibly Hals’ own children

The two paintings are remarkable for several reasons. First of all, it is possible that they depict two of Hals’ own children, Frans and Sara. Their father painted them making music, a common sight in the Hals household. There are very few genre paintings – showing ordinary people going about their daily activities – by Hals in Dutch museum collections. Until now, the Frans Hals Museum did not have a genre painting by the 17th-century master in its collection.

Addition to the Dutch national collection

Lidewij de Koekkoek, director of the Frans Hals Museum, is incredibly proud that the paintings will be coming to the museum. ‘These pieces are an unbelievably important addition to the Dutch national collection. They show Hals’ talent for capturing everyday events. We are delighted to have had the opportunity to purchase the two paintings together with the Mauritshuis, and look forward to being able to show the children to the public.’

Frans Hals

Frans Hals (1580-1666) is one of the most famous, and most innovative, Dutch painters of the 17th century. His dynamic brushwork and spontaneous compositions made his work unique, and were emulated by many. His style quickly became popular and he received many portrait commissions, including from the wealthy brewers and civic guards of Haarlem. He also often portrayed ordinary people, a development that started in Haarlem and other towns, and later spread throughout the country. Later, his work influenced many other artists, including the impressionists and Vincent van Gogh.