In celebration of Judith Leyster's (1609–1660) 400th birthday, the Gallery will showcase her expressive Self-Portrait (c. 1630) as the focal point of a small exhibition that will include ten of Leyster's finest works from American and European collections.

Leyster's oeuvre consists of a range of subjects, including genre scenes, portraits, and still lifes, that display her awareness of contemporary artistic styles and themes. The informality of her engaging paintings owes much to Frans Hals (c. 1582/1583–1666), with whom she may have studied, as well as to the Utrecht Caravaggisti. To complement Leyster's works, paintings by Hals and by Leyster's husband, Jan Miense Molenaer (1610–1668), will also be included. (Source: www.nga.gov)