Quaker Bonnet c. 1937

Lillian Causey rendered this watercolor of a Quaker Bonnet, a symbol of modesty and religious devotion. The bonnet itself, devoid of ornamentation, speaks volumes about the Quaker commitment to simplicity and inner spirituality. Consider how veils and head coverings have echoed through centuries, from ancient Roman priestesses to Renaissance portraits of demure women. Each iteration signifies a societal or spiritual status, adapting to the times yet retaining a core essence of humility. Even in our modern, secular age, the echoes of this symbolism persist. A bride's veil or a judge's wig, each a distant relative of the Quaker bonnet, reminding us of the powerful, subconscious pull of inherited forms. These aren't mere clothes; they're emblems laden with the weight of generations. The cyclical nature of visual symbols reminds us that nothing is ever truly new, only rediscovered and reinterpreted through the lens of time.