Horseshoe Bonnet 1935 - 1942

Curator: Welcome. Here we have Wilbur Rice’s “Horseshoe Bonnet,” a watercolor and pencil drawing dating from between 1935 and 1942. Editor: My first thought is how delicate it appears, and slightly antiquated. The colours, muted blues and reds, give it a sombre feel, like something found in a forgotten attic. Curator: The interesting thing about Rice is how he positions everyday objects, like this bonnet, within a broader historical context. Fashion, even something as seemingly simple as headwear, can tell us a lot about the social mores and class structures of the time. Editor: Agreed, but let’s consider the artistry. Watercolour offers such immediacy and transparency, right? But pencil underneath would have required layering and building, implying careful production, a real intentionality with the image. I’m wondering about the bonnets manufacture, materials, who wore it? What kind of labour was involved to produce something like that. Curator: Precisely! The choice of a bonnet reflects the domestic sphere, the societal expectations placed on women during this period. Headwear was a signifier, revealing social status and even marital status. Rice captures this visual language, prompting us to consider women’s roles and visibility, or lack thereof. Editor: Visible, maybe, but within certain defined parameters. You know, considering the techniques; the layered watercolors, tiny embellishments—it's almost subversive. You're making me wonder if this image acts as a mirror reflecting the limitations, even as the owner proudly dons a garment like this in public. Curator: That's astute. And while the colours lend it that quiet dignity you noted earlier, that hint of faded glory is interesting. What it suggests is a bygone era of social constraints, and I think, to a certain extent, women pushed back through items of clothing. Editor: So, from a detailed representation of something functional, we get an artefact offering insight into culture. Who knew such quiet dignity could spark such thought? Curator: Exactly. Rice gives us much to think about and is not just capturing a moment but really all of its historical connotations.