DIRCK HALS (Haarlem 1591 – 1656 Haarlem)
A Merry Making Company in an Interior
oil on panel
16 1/8 x 31 inches (41 x 79 cm.)
ARTISTIC BUSINESSMAN?
Often times, artistic people find it difficult to develop good business sense. It can be because they are more focused on the creative aspect of their work rather than the numbers or they just might not have the instinct or level of expertise required to hone their business skills. You may not think this could influence how talented they may or may not be, but it can absolutely influence their legacy.
Dirck Hals was born in Haarlem in 1591. He hailed from an artistic family with his brother (and mentor) Frans being the most famous. His upbringing in Haarlem likely brought him in touch with a large and thriving artistic scene, but not necessarily a wealthy one. The Hals family was middle class at best, but these two brothers had not just artistic talent – a key factor in their success – but they had business savvy which helped secure their names in art history for the foreseeable future.
You could say that Dirck Hals is the undisputed king of Merry Company paintings. This term is used in art history to define a 17th century painting showing a small group enjoying themselves. Usually drinking and ‘making merry,’ the scenes were an extremely popular type of genre painting in The Netherlands. around the mid 1600's. Most artists during this time were not discovered, as can be the case today, but studied in workshops and under the tutelage of a master.
Once they felt ready, artists ventured out on their own trying to secure commissions. We could guess that Dirck Hals might have stumbled across a commission from a wealthy patron who most likely wanted a Merry Company scene, and the rest was history. Hals likely enjoyed painting these joyous views of people’s lives, but he seems to have very quickly understood that old mantra ‘specialize, specialize, specialize’ and that he did!
Hals seized an opportunity and began understanding what the wealthiest clients wanted. His paintings are characterized by their attention to detail, the play of light and shadow, and the rendering of textures, fabrics, and the human figure. All the things that make his characters look appealing, energetic and charming. If you were commissioning a painting, wouldn’t that be what you wanted hanging in your home? Especially when that painting was there to show all your guests that you have taste and wealth. It can even tell your guests that you are fun and they should want to socialise with you.
However, as much as he was talented, don’t underestimate his focus on producing the most elegant of Merry Company pictures. Those pictures would bring the most demand, popularity and thus the most money. However, this wasn’t just for the money. Hals couldn’t have presented paintings with such joie de vivre if there wasn’t a passion behind it.
Dirck Hal’s focus on specializing on these genre scenes and using the skills he had to create a unique product is exactly what every great businessman does. The combination leaves them with an enduring legacy while others fade into the oblivion of history. In a population of just under 2 million, and an estimate of thousands of artists, Hals is remembered and revered for his talent, but he should also be remembered for his savvy business skills, recognizing a demand in the market for what he offered and making the most out of his talents. This is easier said than done, ask any wannabee tycoon!
September 20, 2023