Frans Hals (1582-1666)

What I like about so many of these Flemish artists is that they painted people who actually existed. These were not people idealized but ordinary and cheerfully plain looking.

Frans Hals

His subjects were not handsome. The ladies were plump. And almost homely. But they were wealthy and impervious it seems to vanity. Hals painted people who were comfortable with themselves. If you go to the Lowland countries you can see those same faces today.