Hat c. 1925 - 1950

This gorgeous Hat, made by an anonymous artist, is at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The artist clearly reveled in the making process, carefully stitching each element. The texture is what grabs me first. Look at the way the colorful threads sit slightly raised on the black knitted base, giving a real tactile quality. The white embroidery, with touches of red and green, pops out – like the artist was sketching with thread! Notice the repeated motifs. Are they stylized flowers or maybe even abstracted faces? It’s hard to say for sure. The bottom edge has such rhythm! Tiny triangles and lozenges in blue, green, and white create an almost musical border. These details make it feel so personal, like the artist had a story to tell with every stitch. It reminds me a little of the hats made by some folk artists. In art, the conversation never really stops, does it? It’s all about open-ended exchange.