Man's hat c. 1920s

Editor: This piece, simply titled "Man's hat," dates back to the 1920s and lives here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Looking at its strange combination of wool, textile, and flamboyant peacock feathers, I wonder, what formal relationships strike you when viewing this hat? Curator: Note how the texture of the hat’s base is juxtaposed against the smoothness of the attached ribbons. Then consider how the stiff geometry of the cylinder contrasts the fluid curves of the peacock feathers. These divergent formal choices propose a stimulating interplay. Editor: So, you are focusing on the basic shape and the tactile contrast. What effect do these contrasting elements create together? Curator: Exactly. These deliberate contrasts generate a dynamic tension, challenging conventional notions of form. The eye is never at rest, constantly navigating between rigid structure and organic embellishment. The colour choices too provide clear visual tension: note the boldness of the red section next to the black. Editor: I see! Is it the interplay between the different components, rather than any inherent symbolism, that interests you? Curator: Precisely. Our understanding is built upon analyzing the visual language evident within the artwork's construction itself. To consider this an intellectual, rather than purely artistic endeavor. It showcases a calculated, visual grammar intended to provoke an intellectual reaction from the viewer through dissonance. Editor: It's like the artwork becomes a formal puzzle for us to solve. That's really opened my eyes to seeing it in a whole new way. Curator: I'm glad this new perspective has enriched your experience of this fascinating object. This interplay can guide interpretations through art!