Portrait of Blank 

Carl Hoff created this pencil drawing, Portrait of Blank, and it now resides in the Städel Museum. Here, the individual’s hat is a strong indicator of social standing, projecting authority and formality. This echoes the headwear seen in ancient Roman senatorial portraits, where togas and specific hairstyles marked status. Consider how similar hats appear in later eras. Think of the top hats worn by industrialists in Daumier’s lithographs, or in photographs from the American gilded age: here the hat is no longer just about status, but also about power. The hat is not simply an object; it is a symbol loaded with aspiration and social narrative. This portrait, though simple, triggers a recognition of the cyclical nature of symbols. It reminds us of how objects evolve, carrying echoes of the past into the present.