Gypsy Girl

The title (La Bohemienne in French), which was supplied by the donor, is misleading, as this is in fact a courtesan. This type of coarse, provocative genre picture was very rare for Hals. It probably dates to around 1626, during the short but admirable period when the artist was influenced by Honthorst and the Utrecht Caravaggisti, and favored a lighter palette. (http://cartelen.louvre.fr)