The Officers of the St Adrian Militia Company 1633

Frans Hals's "The Officers of the St. Adrian Militia Company" (1633) is a group portrait that captures the spirit of the Dutch Golden Age. This large-scale oil painting, located in the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem, Netherlands, portrays the members of a local militia company in a lively and informal setting. Hals, known for his dynamic brushstrokes and ability to depict individual character, portrays each officer with a sense of individuality and energy. The painting's lively composition, with its diagonal lines and bursts of color, exemplifies Hals's innovative approach to portraiture, moving beyond the traditional formality of the genre. This masterpiece is a quintessential example of Dutch Golden Age group portraiture and a testament to Hals's skill as a painter.