Tulband van zwart satijn met aigrette c. 1910 - 1915

Editor: Here we have a photograph entitled "Tulband van zwart satijn met aigrette", which translates to “Turban of black satin with aigrette”, taken around 1910-1915. The textures are so rich! It’s quite striking, but almost somber at the same time. What’s your take on it? Curator: Ah, yes. Somber elegance, wouldn’t you say? To me, this image whispers of a bygone era, a time of elaborate attire and perhaps a touch of melancholy. The photograph itself feels like a relic, a ghost of fashion. Notice how the feathers – the "aigrette" – seem to both adorn and almost… escape from the turban. Does it evoke a sense of restriction, perhaps? Or liberation, with those unruly feathers breaking free? Editor: I see what you mean. There is almost a tension between the tightly wound turban and those errant feathers. Do you think that was intentional? Curator: It’s delightful to consider that question. Photography then was so different from our hyper-saturated world now. The simple tonal variations speak to a search for form and the aesthetic treatment and presentation of fashionable hats. A celebration of the exquisite texture of black satin, the stark contrast, perhaps it’s trying to tell us about a world where outward presentation meant everything, hiding secrets underneath… or maybe I’m just projecting my own romantic notions onto a hat. What do you think? Editor: It makes you wonder, doesn't it? Thanks for sharing your perspective! Curator: My pleasure! It's a hat that invites endless stories. Isn’t art grand like that?