Hoofd van een man met hoed 1879

Editor: We’re looking at "Head of a Man with Hat," a graphite drawing by Piet Verhaert from 1879. The man seems lost in thought. What stands out to you when you look at this work? Curator: Immediately, I'm drawn to the hat. The hat, more than just a piece of attire, operates as a powerful symbol. In portraiture, it can signify profession, social standing, but also a veil, a screen. The man's gaze is directed downwards, masked by the hat's shadow, and that is no accident. Consider the psychological implications. Editor: A screen, like a protection? Curator: Precisely! What might he be shielding himself from? Verhaert's mark-making around the head amplifies this feeling; it's almost frantic. He's literally drawing attention to this internal space, using hatching to hint at turmoil. Notice, though, that the man’s coat, and neckwear look soft. Does this indicate his real nature or his profession? Editor: So you're saying the artist is using visual cues to represent inner states? The hat hides the face and Verhaert used strokes to show unrest. The textures represent nature. Curator: Exactly. Think of the visual language and its power. A hat can embody societal expectations, personal identity and maybe an interior struggle. It allows him a space to withdraw. What do we retain when that visual component is taken from us, perhaps our assumptions of masculine identity? Editor: I never considered how much symbolism could be packed into something as simple as a hat. Curator: These images build on our common cultural memory and open the potential for self-discovery. Now when you see a portrait, do you think you might approach it differently? Editor: Definitely. I will always think about the artist and my cultural response when observing an image. Thank you.