Vrouw met een ronde hoed 1745 - 1794

This mezzotint by Richard Houston portrays a woman in a round hat. The hat, beyond its immediate function, becomes a symbol of status and perhaps modesty. The motif of the hat takes on a life of its own when we consider how head coverings have signified different roles and values across cultures. Think back to the veils of antiquity, or the elaborate headdresses of Renaissance portraits. The hat, then, is not merely an accessory, but a marker of identity. Even today, the hat persists, although evolving into new forms. The felt broad brimmed hats of the 1800's, the elegant boaters from the beginning of the twentieth century, each carries echoes of social status. It embodies a complex interplay between conscious display and subconscious expression.