Why it matters
A man in a floppy hat raises a glass of wine and gestures as if he is talking to us. Its loose brushwork and in-the-moment feel anticipate Impressionism, and it is one of the Rijksmuseum's most popular pieces.
Did you know?
- It was painted around 1628–1630.
- Whether it is a genre scene or a portrait is debated.
- Hals used the end of his brush to shape forms in the wet paint.
Based on the Wikipedia article The Merry Drinker (CC BY-SA 4.0).
