Untitled (from Hijab Series) 2002

This photographic portrait is by Boushra Yahya Almutawakel, who was born in Yemen in 1969. It’s from her series, *Hijab*. I can only imagine what was going through her mind as she made it. I mean, what does it mean to drape an American flag across the head and shoulders of a young woman? How does the symbolism of this overtly politicized object shift when seen through the lens of religion, identity, and, of course, gender? It’s interesting, isn’t it, how something as simple as a piece of cloth can hold so much meaning? It’s a powerful statement about cultural identity and belonging, and a reminder that art can challenge our assumptions. Almutawakel’s photo also invites us to consider multiple perspectives, to find the gray areas within the red, white, and blue. It just goes to show how artists are in conversation across time, inspiring one another’s creativity, and revealing new ways of seeing.