Portret van een man met een snor en bolhoed 1880 - 1920

Abraham Koorenhoff captured this man wearing a bowler hat in a photograph, a format that democratized portraiture in his time. That hat! A seemingly simple object, yet brimming with cultural echoes. Initially designed to protect gamekeepers' heads from low-hanging branches, it quickly became a staple of the burgeoning middle class, especially in urban settings. One might even dare to draw a parallel to Hermes' winged hat, symbolizing the wearer's readiness for commerce and movement. The bowler, unlike a crown, doesn't signify divine right; instead, it speaks of collective aspirations and newfound social mobility. Yet, beneath the surface, there's a hint of anxiety, a silent question: Does the hat truly mask the inner self, or does it reveal a deeper yearning for belonging and recognition? Much like a mask in ancient theater, it conceals and reveals simultaneously, inviting us to ponder the ever-shifting dynamics of identity and representation.