Woman in a Hat 

Curator: Here we have a drawing attributed to James Ensor, aptly titled "Woman in a Hat." Editor: First thought? That hat’s defying gravity. And she seems to be carrying some kind of strange, dark orb…it’s unsettling, like she's on her way to some clandestine meeting. Curator: The image is rendered with a swift, almost frantic quality of line. This was a time when artists really struggled with social hierarchies and visibility in bourgeois society. Editor: There's a tension in the lines. See how they swarm and gather in the details, particularly around her face and hands? It suggests a real energy, almost a kind of… trapped feeling, maybe? Is it just me, or is there a mask element with Ensor? Curator: Ensor engaged with caricature, often through the use of masks and strange headwear like the outsize piece on view here. He used these figures to comment on the absurdity of the elite, I would guess. Editor: Maybe she's performing her class, Curator, isn’t the mask part of what makes this “class portrait” visible? What are the details of this piece—anything striking about Ensor's decision to create "Woman in a Hat" in this specific context? Curator: Well, the simplicity of the drawing – just lines, really – allows him to zero in on societal impressions. Consider the symbolism, how does she signify power in the drawing? Is it through the strange fashion that would not really shield her from anything? The gesture as a sign? Or does it have nothing to do with those outside her class? The composition highlights the absurdity, even fragility, of societal pretense. Editor: Her gloves are certainly doing their part. Yes, there's something very studied in that sketch and yet vulnerable—she’s there, laid bare through what feels like the briefest gesture, caught and placed perfectly by Ensor's touch. I mean, even after knowing what Ensor was pointing at…that strange darkness near her wrist won’t stop staring at me! Curator: Indeed, it seems he wished to hold a mirror to his time. Editor: Right, so, "Woman in a Hat." More than just a quick sketch of some fancy lady; it’s a bit of societal critique mixed with a healthy dose of dark charm. I won't forget this lady quickly!