Married Couple in a Garden (detail) 1622

"Married Couple in a Garden" was painted by Frans Hals, a leading portrait painter of the Dutch Golden Age. During this time, the rising merchant class commissioned such paintings to reflect their increasing wealth and social status. Here, the artist presents an intriguing dynamic between the couple who stroll confidently on the left of the garden, with an elaborate fountain and classical architecture as the backdrop to their world. But there is a deeper story here too. The painting can be read as a celebration of marriage. Despite the restrictions placed upon women during this period, Hals subtly implies an alternative narrative. The wife’s hand is placed higher than the husband’s, suggesting her dominance in the relationship and her role in maintaining the family’s social standing. This painting subtly challenges the expected gender roles of 17th-century Dutch society. Hals presents a scene full of societal meanings and nuances, inviting us to reflect on the personal and social aspects of marriage during the Golden Age.