Mulatto 1627

Frans Hals’ “Mulatto” (1627) is a bust-length portrait of a man, likely a soldier or military officer, wearing a bright red and gold jacket, turned towards the viewer in an informal pose with a broad smile. The painting, now in the Museum der Bildenden Kunste, Leipzig, Germany, is a fine example of Hals’ mastery of brushwork and capturing the spontaneity of human expression. The sitter's "mulatto" identity, highlighted by his dark skin and features, offers a glimpse into the diversity of 17th-century Dutch society.