Head of a Young Man in a Pointed Hat 1922

Editor: We’re looking at Eugeniusz Zak's 1922 oil painting, "Head of a Young Man in a Pointed Hat." It's quite striking! The almost ethereal skin tone against that somewhat muted blue background creates a fascinating sense of stillness. What initially draws your eye to this particular portrait? Curator: Ah, stillness... I see it too! It feels as if the young man, and perhaps even Zak himself, is suspended between worlds. The hat, that slightly ridiculous yet compelling pointed hat, pulls my gaze. I imagine Zak, perhaps in a Parisian café, sketching, searching for the soul within the perceived. Don't you feel as if you've met this person somewhere, dreamt about them? Editor: That’s an interesting way to look at it. I was so focused on the sort of androgynous features that I didn't consider the "dreamt about" quality. Do you think the hat is some kind of symbol? Curator: Symbolism is the art historian's best friend, and perhaps their biggest trap. The hat might be practical, or purely decorative, plucked from a costume box. More likely it is simply something that the artist finds aesthetically pleasing, a visual poem hinting at the sitter’s internal state, an eccentricity that sets them apart. What do you think he's thinking about? Editor: Perhaps the possibilities of the future, still young and unburdened? This has definitely offered me a new appreciation for Zak's portrait, and I’ll be looking at pointy hats in a whole new way from now on! Curator: The power of a portrait! Glad to share a reverie with you, perhaps our viewers too will feel a bit inspired in looking closely at those we might pass by on the street.