The White Hat c. 1780

Jean-Baptiste Greuze painted this captivating oil on canvas portrait, called "The White Hat," during the late 18th century, a period defined by rococo aesthetics and significant social upheaval. Greuze, celebrated for his sentimental genre paintings, here presents us with a young woman whose gaze carries both innocence and allure. The lavish white hat, adorned with feathers and lace, speaks to the fashion and aristocratic tastes of the time. Yet, the woman's slightly disheveled appearance and the hint of exposed cleavage suggest a departure from the rigid moral standards typically upheld in portraiture. Is Greuze subtly challenging the conventions of female representation? The painting invites us to consider the complex interplay between public image and private identity, and the ways in which women navigated the constraints and expectations of 18th-century French society. “Painting is nothing but the art of expressing thought.” In its delicate brushwork and ambiguous narrative, "The White Hat" evokes a sense of intimacy, capturing a fleeting moment of vulnerability and defiance that continues to resonate today.