Frans Hals, Singing Girl and Boy Playing the Violin, c. 1628, Frans Hals Museum and Mauritshuis, photo Mike Bink

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.

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.

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.

The two panels, painted in circa 1628, are an important addition to the Netherlands’ public art collection, and to the collections of the two museums. Frans Hals is known internationally for his portraits and his genre paintings: scenes of ordinary people going about their daily business, as might be seen on the streets today. The Dutch national collection has included very few of Hals’ genre scenes until now. The paintings of two children playing music are particularly interesting as the boy and girl may be the artist’s own son and daughter.

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, Girl Singing, c. 1628, Frans Hals Museum and Mauritshuis, courtesy of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

Frans Hals, Boy Playing the Violin, c. 1628, Frans Hals Museum and Mauritshuis, courtesy of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

Hals’ legacy
Frans Hals (1583-1666) 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.

Missing piece of the puzzle for museums
The Frans Hals Museum has the world’s largest collection of paintings by Hals, but did not have any of his genre scenes until now. The acquisition of these two panels means that this important element of Hals’ work will also be showcased at the museum. The paintings will be on display at the Frans Hals Museum from mid-July, and will also feature in its Hals-Rembrandt exhibition, which opens in November 2026.
Though the Mauritshuis has some of the finest 17th-century art in its collection, Frans Hals is relatively underrepresented in its collection. From mid-October the paintings will be shown at the Mauritshuis as part of a presentation on the development of genre painting in the early 17th century. The children will appear alongside work by painters like Willem Buytewech and Flemish artist Adriaen Brouwer, who worked in Haarlem around the same time as Hals.

Arnoud van Dommele, Business Director Mauritshuis, and Lidewij de Koekkoek, Director Frans Hals Museum, photo by Mike Bink.