A Lady Wearing a Hat. The Artist's Wife, Dagny Marie Christensen 1935

Here we see John Christensen's oil on canvas painting, a portrait of his wife, Dagny Marie Christensen. The composition, dominated by a palette of blacks, whites, and muted greens, evokes a sense of somber contemplation. The brushstrokes are visible, contributing a tangible texture. The sitter's hat, adorned with prominent floral decorations, draws immediate attention. Here, we can apply semiotics to interpret how the hat functions as a signifier. The hat, with its conventional associations of femininity, is destabilized through the dark palette and the somewhat stoic expression of Dagny. The contrast between the decorative hat and the sitter's sober affect challenges conventional portraiture. This tension between form and content invites viewers to question fixed meanings. Instead, Christensen presents an image of a woman that defies simple categorization, engaging with broader discussions around representation and identity.