Portetbuste van een (Spaanse?) heer met een grote hoed before 1649

Gerard ter Borch II rendered this chalk drawing of a possible Spanish gentleman in the 17th century. Dominating the composition is the large, feathered hat. Hats, historically, have been potent symbols of status and identity. Think of the beret in Renaissance portraits, or even the laurel wreaths of antiquity. The feathered hat, in particular, evokes notions of bravado and flamboyance, often associated with the Spanish Golden Age. We see echoes of this virility in later works too. The hat continually reappears, modified and adapted to changing fashions and societal needs, from military headgear to religious vestments. In each iteration, the hat carries with it a history, a trace of its past selves. This act of covering the head, a gesture of protection or concealment, becomes a powerful force. It is an assertion of self and status. This is a cycle, and the hat is destined to resurface, evolve, and be imbued with new meaning.