Child with Straw Hat c. 1846 - 1873

William Matthew Prior created this painting, "Child with Straw Hat," sometime in the 19th century. The child's figure is centrally positioned against a backdrop of dark reds and browns, which brings them forward and creates a focal point. The straw hat held in the child’s left hand introduces a contrasting, brighter tone. Prior's stylistic choices, particularly the flattened perspective and somewhat naive rendering of form, reflect the folk-art traditions of his time. The book held in the child's right hand, alongside the hat, acts as signifiers. They suggest both intellect and leisure. Note how the child's gaze meets ours directly. This formal element invites the viewer into a direct engagement. The painting also destabilizes traditional portraiture. Prior avoids idealization, instead offering an honest representation of the child. This subverts the established conventions of portraiture, which often served to aggrandize the subject. Instead, Prior delivers an authentic depiction that engages with the simplicity and directness of folk art. This is a visual representation of a broader cultural discourse around representation, class, and identity.