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The Feast of St Nicholas

The Merry Drinker

From the series One hundred masterpieces
The Merry Drinker oil on canvas, c. 1629

Frans Hals is known for his swiftly applied short brushstrokes. Just look at the collar: a jumble of white streaks of paint and yet unmistakably a lace collar.

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Still Life with Cheese

1:21 min. - What deeper meaning did the cheese have?

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1:21 min. - What is there to smile about here?

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1:07 min. - What’s going on with this swan?

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1:11 min. - Do you see the miller on the balcony?

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1:10 min. - What three genres do you see in this work?

The Merry Drinker The Merry Drinker

The Merry Drinker

1:17 min. - Take a look at the quick and short brushstrokes

The Feast of St Nicholas The Feast of St Nicholas

The Feast of St Nicholas

1:14 min. - How did Jan Steen instil such vivacity in this festivity?

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0:52 min. - See how wonderfully well the horses are painted

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1:13 min. - Just look at these masterful reflections and refined composition

The Merry Family The Merry Family

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1:35 min. - A family gathering that has gotten out of hand.

Portrait of a Girl Dressed in Blue Portrait of a Girl Dressed in Blue

Girl in Blue

1:17 min. - So what makes this such a popular painting?

View of Haarlem from the Northwest, with the Bleaching Fields in the Foreground View of Haarlem from the Northwest, with the Bleaching Fields in the Foreground

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1:26 min. - Go zigzagging through the envitons of Haarlem