As part of my first trip to the Met, I was able to explore two exhibits that, surprisingly, had much in common. The first, of course, was the Frans Hals exhibit. I found it fascinating how most of the ladies and gentlemen in the portraits were previously lower class. The piece that comes to mind is the portrait of the man who may have been named “Nicolaes Pietersz Duyst van Voorhout.”                                                                                                                                                  

            Apparently, he owned a brewery, which doesn’t seem like the kind of position that would need to be remembered through a portrait, and that, in my opinion, is the beauty of it! The fact that he wasn’t a king created a shift in societal norms that is refreshing. As I walked through the “Hals Hall,” I enjoyed the fact that these people were simply common. Because of this, a viewer is able to appreciate the true elements of the painting, rather than worshipping the subject of the painting. One of the aspects was clothing. Our tour guide informed us that Haarlem was known for its use of different textiles and fabrics and knowing this explained why Hals used such detail on clothing. 

After visiting the Hals Exhibit, I paid my next visit to the Lehman Collection, which is now one of my favorites! From the moment I stepped into it, I felt like I was inside a dainty apartment going from room to room. It contained paintings from around the 14th century all the way to the 20th century! Compared to the Hals Exhibit, most of the pieces, with the exception of the portraits, were more colorful and seemed livelier. Although it’s difficult to compare because the Lehman Collection is so large and contains pieces from many centuries, I thought that the portraits of the Lehman Collection were similar to Hals’ style through the detail and color schemes. One of the pieces that stood out to me far above the others was “Masqueraders” by Madrazo of 1875. The minute I spotted this one, it stood out because of the “realness” factor. If you look at the maiden’s fair skin, it looks as if you could reach out and stroke it. And the fact that her coat is lying in a chair next to her creates a very natural feel. Overall, when I am to return to the Met, I can see myself revisiting the Lehman Collection, whereas the Hals Exhibit was more of a one-time appreciation for me. I look forward to see where my wandering eye takes me in my visits to come.