Straw Hat, Bag, and Umbrella c. 1890 - 1999

Editor: Here we have John Frederick Peto's "Straw Hat, Bag, and Umbrella," estimated to be painted sometime between 1890 and 1909. It's an oil painting, and I'm immediately struck by its ordinariness, a collection of everyday items rendered with such detail. What draws your eye when you look at this piece? Curator: For me, it’s how Peto transforms the mundane into a symbolic tableau. Consider the arrangement. The straw hat, shielding from the sun; the bag, perhaps holding necessities; the umbrella, warding off rain. Together, they evoke journeys, passages through life, and the tools we gather to navigate them. What kind of journeys come to mind? Editor: Perhaps a simple day trip? A visit to the market, maybe? Curator: Precisely, but don't underestimate the symbolic weight. These items, common as they are, are stand-ins for our own protection, our own preparedness for what life throws at us. Do you see a tension here, perhaps between the idea of preparedness and the vulnerability suggested by these discarded items? Editor: Yes, actually. They're hung on a hook, not actively being used. It suggests a pause, a moment of rest… or perhaps abandonment? Curator: That's astute. The act of hanging these objects almost turns them into votive offerings, wouldn't you agree? Objects charged with our hopes, fears, and memories of journeys past. What is retained, culturally? How does our current era impact your read of these objects? Editor: Wow, I never thought of it that way. I was just seeing it as a still life, but now it feels like it's full of untold stories. I guess that’s the power of everyday objects – they’re more than just what they seem. Curator: Exactly! Peto's skill lies in reminding us of that very fact. Now I have new perspective on it, too!