Self-Portrait with Pith Helmet 1873

Editor: Here we have Gustave Caillebotte's "Self-Portrait with Pith Helmet" from 1873, painted with oils. I'm immediately drawn to the textural contrast between his face and beard and the almost carelessly rendered background. What can you tell me about the social conditions or production of art in this period, or anything you see at all, really? Curator: Consider the pith helmet. It’s a seemingly simple object, but loaded with material significance. Think about its origins, its function as protection under a colonial sun, and the material properties required to achieve that. How does the depiction of such an object function within the intimate setting of a self-portrait? What sort of social values and historical forces went into constructing that hat, both literally, and as a visual signifier? Editor: So, the hat isn't just a hat - it's an indicator of Caillebotte's social status, or perhaps even hinting at his views regarding colonialism, displayed quite conspicuously. Is the presence of that hat the main factor affecting its reading? Curator: It is definitely *a* factor! Reflect on the artist's handling of paint too. What does the relatively loose, 'impressionistic' brushwork suggest about his relationship to the conventional artistic labor of his time? Was he attempting to embrace or to distance himself from more traditional, academic practices? Editor: That makes sense. I guess the fact that he depicts himself outdoors and, what appears to be, "working" at painting in plain air adds another layer of labor to the composition, in its construction of art itself. The materiality is no longer just about paint, but the labour that's going into its making! Curator: Precisely! Considering art through the lens of materiality urges us to think about value systems – not just artistic, but also social, economic, and even political values embedded in these artifacts. Editor: Wow, I hadn't considered the implications of the pith helmet and the "plein air" working implications so deeply! Now I will have plenty to think about! Curator: Exactly, and these are just initial observations - a rich understanding will emerge with closer looks at more art objects with a consideration for labor and material.