Ronde hoedendoos van karton, beplakt met papier waarop pompoen-vormige rozen c. 1919

Editor: Here we have a hat box from around 1919, made with cardboard and paper that is printed with these charming, almost naive flowers. It strikes me as incredibly personal, like something a woman might have made for herself to brighten an everyday object. What can you tell me about this hat box, particularly from the vantage of gender and domesticity? Curator: It's perceptive of you to read this hat box as intimate and connected to a feminine sphere. Objects like this, though often dismissed as mere 'decorative art', actually provide fascinating insight into women's lives and creative expression during the early 20th century. Think about it: who had access to creating 'high art' and whose stories are told through these kinds of 'crafts'? This was produced during a period of great societal upheaval, just after World War One and as women were fighting for suffrage in many countries. Do you think there might be a relationship between these wider cultural shifts and a movement to make statements through more accessible materials? Editor: That’s a really interesting point about the democratization of artmaking. Maybe something like this offered a space for creativity outside the traditional art world, especially for women? I am curious about this interplay between utility, decoration, and possibly female agency. Curator: Exactly. Consider also the use of floral motifs. How might we read these pumpkin-shaped roses not just as decorative elements but also as coded messages relating to womanhood and the natural world? Does this imagery challenge or reinforce prevailing societal expectations of women during this time? Editor: I never would have thought to analyze a hat box in that way. Thanks for expanding my understanding of how everyday objects can embody larger cultural and political themes! Curator: My pleasure! By viewing art in this way we uncover many silent voices.