Hoed van zwart, doorschijnend stro c. 1918 - 1920

This black hat made of translucent straw was created by Maison Marcel. The straw is woven so finely that the surface is textured with concentric lines. The hat is dark, but the material catches the light, giving it a sheen. Looking closely, I can see the way the light emphasizes the woven quality of the straw. It reminds me of the way a painter might build up layers of glaze to create depth and luminosity. The dark colour and structured form are modern, but the hat itself reminds me of hats from another era, something you might see in a Jacques Tati film. It's like a minimalist sculpture, yet it also looks like something someone would wear to a garden party. Fashion, like painting, is an ongoing conversation between past and present. Things can be both serious and playful, simple and complex, all at the same time.