Portret van een vrouw met hoed 1758 - 1787

James Hazard's "Portrait of a Woman with Hat," an etching, captures a profile distinguished by the elaborate headwear of its time. A feathered hat was a symbol of status and refinement, a visual echo of similar adornments seen across centuries, from Renaissance courts to the flamboyant displays of the Baroque era. Consider, for instance, the feathered helmets of ancient warriors, or even birds in mating rituals: the impulse to adorn oneself for display is deeply rooted. Over time, what began as a symbol of power or virility evolved into a marker of social standing. This evolution mirrors our own shifting values and preoccupations. The woman's profile, rendered in delicate lines, evokes a sense of melancholy, perhaps reflecting the ephemeral nature of beauty and status. Just as the feathers may one day fall from her hat, so too will the symbols of our own age fade into memory. Yet, in Hazard’s rendering, the enduring human impulse to adorn, to impress, and to be remembered, lives on.