Bonnet c. 1938

Francis Law Durand, born in 1855, created this intriguing watercolor titled "Bonnet." Consider the era during which Durand lived. What did it mean to be a woman? What was the relationship between identity, gender, and representation? The bonnet in this piece is not merely an accessory; it's a symbol of feminine identity, of constructed beauty, and perhaps even constraint. The delicate lacework and floral adornments speak to societal expectations of women, and the artistic skill required to depict them mirrors the artifice of those expectations. Is there a hint of rebellion? A spiderweb subtly woven into the design challenges traditional representations of women? There is both fragility and strength, delicacy and an intricate structure. Durand invites us to consider not just what women wore, but how they were seen, and how they saw themselves, navigating the intricate webs of identity and expectation.