A Ball (1643)

Dated 1643, "A Ball" is an artwork by Dirck Hals. Context for 1643: In Japan the Edo period began in 1603, and in China the Qing dynasty took power in 1644, both bringing new patrons and styles. In the Dutch Republic, a prosperous middle-class market supported landscapes, still lifes, portraits, and scenes of daily life painted at a modest scale for the home. The catalogue places it in Figurative. The format is landscape. Figurative in brief: Over the centuries, painters have used the figure to express social standing, narrative, and emotion. Figurative art depicts people and recognisable scenes, and it has been central to European painting since antiquity.

On onlly.art "A Ball" is sold as a digital download (Digital JPEG + PDF files, 300 DPI). The files are delivered by email after payment, so nothing is shipped: you print locally, choosing the paper, size, and frame yourself. A landscape format suits wide, low wall spaces such as the stretch above a bed, mantel, or sideboard. Before printing, compare the proportions of the file with your frame so that nothing important is cropped. Screens and printers render colour differently, so a small test print is a sensible way to check tones before committing to a large size. Hang the print away from direct sunlight, which over the years can fade any printed colour. Choosing a standard frame size and printing to fit it often saves the cost of custom framing.

Dutch, 1591–1656

If you like the visual language of Dirck Hals, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.