Young woman in a round hat 1877

Curator: Édouard Manet painted this oil on canvas, "Young woman in a round hat", around 1877. It's such a classic piece of Impressionism, and Manet is known for works that push the boundaries of tradition. Editor: My first thought is how subdued the color palette is, and how elegant her posture seems, so quietly dignified and…maybe even a little sad? It feels less like a celebration and more like an observation. Curator: It is a subtle work! If you think about Parisian society during that time period, so much emphasis was placed on appearances, and clothing was an outward signifier. The young woman's attire would’ve suggested her social class. Editor: Exactly. This painting complicates that for me, though, especially knowing Manet's work engaged in that sort of social commentary. There's something about her gaze and the way she is facing away that communicates almost a distance and quiet rejection. She’s adorned in the dress of high society, but the hat hides part of her face in shadows and you wonder whether that’s a metaphor. Curator: She projects a feeling of introversion doesn’t she? Manet's innovative brushstrokes capture the fleeting moment, which aligns with the Impressionist aim, and that emphasis moves our eyes throughout the composition. You feel her character without her having to make overt gestures, her eyes fixed, not making contact. That in itself subverts traditional portraiture. Editor: I’m struck by that shadow as well, obscuring her. Think about who gets to be seen, whose stories get told. Here's this image presented as high society but subtly, perhaps deliberately, veiled and asking us to acknowledge how many similar faces have historically been in the shadows of art. Curator: Thinking about this piece, and about how Manet played with those traditions is still really rewarding to delve into all these years later. Editor: I appreciate that too; art endures when we bring modern, intersectional thought to these artworks and find relevance in their own ways.