Review Frans Hals or Not. Frans Hals

<b>Abstract</b>This review critically assesses Frans Hals or Not. Frans Hals: The Future of Connoisseurship and the Cutting Edge of Art Authentication, a publication that challenges traditional connoisseurship by advocating for the integration of forensic science in art attribution. The book highlights the subjectivity and inconsistency of expert opinion through historical attribution debates and argues for data-driven approaches such as hyperspectral imaging, lead isotope analysis, and macro-X-ray fluorescence (MA-XRF). While it effectively promotes scientific analysis as a corrective to connoisseurial bias, it overlooks key limitations of these technologies, including issues of accessibility, interpretive ambiguity, and their uneven applicability across different artistic periods and styles. Through case studies involving contested works attributed to Frans Hals, the book underscores both the strengths and unresolved challenges of forensic attribution. This review situates the work within broader art historical and market debates, drawing attention to its implications for museum practice, legal disputes, and the evolving role of the connoisseur in the digital age. Despite its shortcomings, the book is a valuable contribution to ongoing discussions around authentication and the ethics of expertise in art history.<br>