In the context of this artwork, analyze the Style of the Subject matter.
Frans' portraiture depicting the St George Militia Company is heavily focused on impressionism; the loose and brisk brushstrokes are very clear up close, but allow the details to come out from afar. The painting is group portraiture but can also be seen as a genre painting, as it portrays an event where the figures are captured and frozen at a moment in time. Frans Hals's group portraiture, as described by art historian Ann Sutherland Harris, evokes what is called "seeming realism" as they tend to feel very lifelike despite the subject being fake. The reason for this is that this painting was not created in front of the civic guard during the banquet; Frans Hals made an original composition and later had each of the members model for him in his studio.
portraiture genre painting realism civic guard impressionism Ann Sutherland Harris Frans Hals