Malle Babbe
Frans Hals · 1640
Why it's great
An old woman with a wild look and a big beer mug laughs loudly as an owl sits on her shoulder. Frans Hals painted it in about 1640, and Malle Babbe, meaning Crazy Babbe, was a real woman from Haarlem.
Where to see it
📍 Gemäldegalerie BerlinBezirk Mitte, Germany
Open in Maps ↗Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Frans Hals was a Dutch painter who was born in Antwerp around 1582 and lived most of his life in Haarlem. He painted lively portraits with fast, loose brushstrokes, so his sitters seem to laugh, drink and talk right in front of you. He died in Haarlem in 1666.
