X Imitations
In the 17th and 18th centuries, copies and variations of Hals’s paintings were created, with the focus primarily on the subject matter and compositional innovation. It was only the discovery of Hals's style of painting as ‘Art’ in the modern sense – and the high prices that this type of paintings fetched – that led to the creation of free imitations by modern masters. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when Hals was admired by Realists, Impressionists and Post-Impressionists, many artworks were created that are now easily recognisable as forgeries and that can be verified as such because of their material characteristics. With very few exceptions, these are not included in the present publication, apart from those that are present in museum collections or the art historical literature about Hals as autograph works, or at least have been seriously considered as such.
Han van Meegeren
Laughing cavalier
panel, oil paint, 36 x 36 cm
Netherlands, private collection
cat.no. X4
* with contributions by K. Mulder