Portrait of Gregg Schneider 

Adrian Gottlieb painted this portrait of Gregg Schneider in our current times with oil on canvas. The most striking element is the baseball cap, a symbol deeply embedded in American culture. Initially a functional item for athletes, it has morphed into an emblem of youth, rebellion, and even anonymity. In ancient times, head coverings signified status or religious affiliation. Now, the baseball cap, much like the Phrygian cap of antiquity, has become a symbol of casual identity. Consider how, in Renaissance portraits, elaborate hats denoted nobility and power, but now, the cap offers a stark contrast, suggesting a democratization of portraiture. This modern twist is an iteration in a cycle of symbols that continuously resurface, adapt, and are imbued with new meanings in different contexts. The emotional undercurrent here is the tension between tradition and modernity, a powerful force that engages viewers on a subconscious level.