Untitled (photograph of Gittings photo: "Jaunty Chapeau") c. 1970

This photograph by Paul Gittings presents a woman in profile, her silhouette dramatically framed by a large, dark hat adorned with a striking feather. The hat, a symbol of status and identity, evokes a lineage stretching back through time. We see echoes of the elaborate headwear in Renaissance portraits, symbols of wealth and social standing. This feather, a motif of lightness and elevation, finds its counterpart in the wings of angels, or Hermes. But here, it is grounded, a reminder of the aspirations and vanities of the earthly world. The dark hat and feather can be seen to convey intense feelings of sophistication, and detachment. The cyclical journey of symbols and their ability to take on new meanings, speaks to our collective memory.