The painting is now often identified as a genre-style portrait of a specific individual from Haarlem, known as Malle (meaning "crazy") Babbe, who may have been an alcoholic or suffered from a mental illness.

"[4] Research in the Netherlands municipality of Haarlem showed that a real Malle Babbe actually existed, named Barbara Claes.

Hals and this Malle Babbe had probably already met by this time, as she was evidently a known personality in Haarlem, although none other of her biographical details survive except that she died in 1663.

In Dutch the adjective "Malle" signifies "loony" and it is not uncommon to see painters or writers depict this type of village figure.

In this type of depiction one can find a record of unbalanced figures of society as belonging to the scenery of everyday life, or the artist may enjoy exploring the thin line between sanity and lunacy.

The actual subject of the song "Malle Babbe" however was inspired by another painting by Frans Hals, The Gypsy Girl, depicting a busty young woman, possibly a prostitute.