Lezende man in een stoel Possibly 1815

Aeschinus Saagmans Mulder sketched this drawing of a seated man with pencil on paper. Observe the man's hat, a tall, cylindrical form that immediately marks him as belonging to a certain social class. The hat is more than mere headwear, it signifies status, a silent proclamation of belonging to the bourgeoisie. This symbol of bourgeois identity reappears in other visual forms across different times and places—consider the top hats in Daumier’s satirical prints or even the bowler hats of Magritte’s surreal figures. Over time, the hat has been passed down through history, shifting in meaning from a status symbol to an emblem of conformity or even a surreal, uncanny presence. Think of how the act of reading itself is depicted here. In earlier times, literacy was a privilege, and the book or paper held in one’s hands was a symbol of power, knowledge, and access to information. The emotional or psychological aspect of the image engages viewers on a deep, subconscious level, hinting at the intellectual and social stratification that has shaped our world. The act of reading, the symbol of the hat, each resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.