Kleine hoed van doorgestikte rode ripszijde met platte bol en licht opstaande rand, versierd met bruin grosgrain en bruine voile c. 1941 - 1942

Editor: Here we have "Kleine hoed van doorgestikte rode ripszijde met platte bol en licht opstaande rand, versierd met bruin grosgrain en bruine voile," which translates to “Small hat of quilted red ribbed silk with a flat dome and slightly raised brim, decorated with brown grosgrain and brown voile", made by Rose Valois around 1941-1942. There’s a strange tension here, with the vibrancy of the red playing against what feels like a somber, almost mourning-like veil. What symbols jump out at you? Curator: The immediate symbolism for me lies in the juxtaposition of textures and colors you pointed out, and the period in which this piece was made. Think about 1941-42 – a time of war, rationing, and profound social change. Red, often a symbol of vitality and passion, is tempered, almost muted, by the heavier brown and the veil. It speaks to me of constrained exuberance. The small hat itself is a symbol. It whispers of aspiration, feminine presence and a life carefully adorned. Editor: So the hat represents hope, almost a refusal to give in? Curator: Precisely. Consider how fashion, especially something as seemingly frivolous as a hat, becomes a powerful statement in times of crisis. It represents a continuity of self, a preservation of identity when so much else is being stripped away. Editor: That's insightful. The veil, though, makes me think of something lost. Does that contrast purposefully play with conflicting ideas? Curator: Absolutely. The voile suggests a certain ambiguity, a potential blurring of realities, that comes with a sense of loss or longing for something out of reach. It may even suggest hiding. Yet, even under such circumstances, one dons an article that states I’m still here! What have you learned by considering this hat? Editor: That even a small, seemingly decorative object can carry enormous weight. I definitely see more than just a pretty hat now! Curator: And I’ve been reminded of how enduring and complex simple symbols are. Thank you for helping me look again.