Man's Coat and Waistcoat c. 1936

Melita Hofmann rendered this man’s coat and waistcoat with watercolor, ink, and graphite. The ensemble, a vibrant crimson coat over an ornate waistcoat, speaks volumes of status and identity in its time. The dominant red, a symbol of power and passion, contrasts starkly with the waistcoat’s delicate floral patterns, hinting at cultivated taste and wealth. Consider how similar displays have echoed through history: from the peacock-adorned courtiers of Louis XIV to the power suits of modern executives, each a costume signaling place and aspiration. These symbols have ancient roots, but their meanings have been continuously reborn. Clothing, beyond mere utility, stirs collective memory, tapping into our primal instincts and mirroring societal shifts. Hofmann’s careful rendering acts as a portal, linking us to the past.