Man's Hat Box c. 1937

Editor: Here we have Max Soltmann's "Man's Hat Box," dating from around 1937, done with watercolors. The decorative elements really jump out, almost overwhelming the object itself. How would you unpack the materiality of this? Curator: Well, let's think about this hatbox not just as a container, but as an object of production. Who was making these boxes? Were they mass-produced, hinting at emerging consumerism? Or handcrafted? That changes its social standing considerably. Editor: So the materials used, like the paper or cardboard of the box itself, and even the watercolors, tell us something about its economic value and who might have owned it. Curator: Precisely. Consider the surface. The decorative floral patterns. What’s their source? Are they inspired by William Morris designs? And how are they applied? Is it printed, painted or wallpaper? It is an appropriation of high design for everyday use or does the very act of embellishment elevate this box beyond its utilitarian purpose? We can explore the boundaries between "high art" and craft. Editor: That's a great point about blurring those boundaries! I initially just saw a pretty box, but looking closer, I’m questioning the labor and value involved in something like this. Curator: Exactly! Think about it, each step, from creation to consumption is a point to ask 'why'? Even down to what hats are being carried, and the purpose, occasion or place the owner might be taking this particular hatbox to! Editor: Now I’m seeing this less as a simple still life and more as a tiny, almost subversive, social document. It opens a door into understanding production and class! Curator: Indeed. By focusing on materials and their origins, the artist pushes us to examine our relationship to everyday objects and question the assumptions we make about value. Editor: I never thought I'd find so much complexity in a hatbox! Thanks, that's given me a whole new way of seeing.