Hat Sale c. 20th century

Editor: This print is called "Hat Sale" by Mabel Dwight. It gives me a sense of claustrophobia, all these people crammed together trying on hats. What catches your eye when you look at it? Curator: The hats themselves are fascinating symbols of identity. Notice how they obscure individuality, creating a sense of conformity, even anonymity, in the crowd. What psychological need are they fulfilling, do you think? Editor: Maybe the need to fit in, but also to express oneself? Curator: Precisely! The act of choosing a hat becomes a performance, a way to navigate social expectations while still signaling something personal. What does that mirror showing people fighting over clothes suggest to you? Editor: That maybe the desire to fit in comes at a cost? I never thought about hats in that way before. Curator: Indeed. Symbols reveal deeper layers of meaning within seemingly ordinary scenes.