Portrait of a Man, Frans Hals, c. 1635
oil on canvas, h 79.5cm × w 66.5cm Catalogue entry
The man sits sideways, with his arm resting on the back of his chair. It seems as if he has just turned around to look at an unexpected visitor. His right hand only just fits within the picture plane. The execution is free and loose, with individual brushstrokes clearly visible. It is an unusually informal portrait for the time.