Mildred-O Hat 

Robert Henri captured this portrait, titled 'Mildred-O Hat,' with oil on canvas. Note the hat: It is not merely an article of clothing but a symbol deeply embedded in the history of portraiture. Consider how the hat echoes through time, from the elaborate headdresses of Renaissance nobles to the bonnets of the Dutch Masters. The hat here seems to reference classical drapery and has resurfaced in myriad forms, each tailored by its era’s cultural codes. This is a way to use a hat to subtly indicate status, taste, or identity. How does this portrait speak to the ongoing human endeavor to present oneself to the world? It is a statement of identity, and perhaps even a subtle act of defiance.