Man met enorme hoed op zijn rug 1632 - 1645

Editor: We are now looking at "Man met enorme hoed op zijn rug" (Man with enormous hat on his back) by Cornelis Saftleven, created sometime between 1632 and 1645. It's a drawing that has been turned into a print. What strikes me most is the odd combination of serious detail in the figure’s face and the ridiculousness of the large hat, topped with a duck’s head. What's your take? Curator: Indeed! The 'duck head hat' tells a specific story within its time, operating in the space between humor and social critique. These types of comical depictions of everyday people were popular and spoke volumes about societal hierarchies. Look at his attire. He seems like someone trying to project power with his sword and staff but ultimately failing, given the absurdly large hat and almost burdened posture. Editor: So you're suggesting it’s more than just a funny image? What would viewers at the time think about that? Curator: Absolutely. Genre paintings and caricatures were often used to gently mock certain behaviours, fashions, and, potentially, aspirations of social mobility. Saftleven gives us insight into Dutch society and how certain figures were perceived. What is considered funny says a lot about what is socially acceptable at that point in time, who holds power and why. The image could function almost like political satire. It asks "who gets to wear what, why do they think that's the way it should be?". The sword, a symbol of power and authority, looks almost unusable here. It could very well have been intended to subtly critique certain aspects of society at the time. What do you think? Editor: I hadn't considered that. I see it now. He appears weighted down not just by the hat but also by these social pressures. Curator: Precisely. And by depicting this, Saftleven participates in a dialogue that was already ongoing. Editor: It is really interesting how art can reflect and comment on social conventions. Curator: Exactly. And these works give us some incredible access into ways of seeing and ways of thinking that have since shifted, changed, or been overturned entirely.