Koppen met hoge hoeden 1840 - 1880

Johannes Tavenraat sketched these ‘Heads with Top Hats’ in pen and ink, capturing more than just mere portraits; they are studies in character. The top hat, a symbol of the bourgeoisie, speaks volumes about the social standing of the wearers, yet Tavenraat renders them with such unflattering realism that the hats become ironic. The face on the left, shadowed and stern, bears a striking resemblance to caricatures found in Daumier’s social satires, echoing a critique of the bourgeois class. Observe how such headwear and attire have been employed across cultures and eras to denote status. Think of the headdresses of ancient rulers or the elaborate wigs of the French aristocracy. The act of donning a hat is a potent gesture—a performance of identity. It invites us to reflect on the cyclical nature of status symbols and how they are continuously reinvented and recontextualized.