Q.
You can tell a lot about a person by their hat. What kind of hat did they choose? Why here, why now? Does said hat change the way they carry themselves? Are they marching about with more swagger, or fidgeting self-consciously with the brim?

How have artists over the years captured people and their hats?

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A.

Hans Krell. Princess Emilia of Saxony. ~1530

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Isaac Oliver. Young Man Seated Under a Tree. 1590-95

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Rembrandt. Portrait of Saskia van Uylenburgh. 1633

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Johannes Vermeer. Girl with the red hat. ~1665-67

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Carolus Duran. Equestrian portrait of Mademoiselle Croizette. 1873

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Eastman Johnson. Woman Reading. ~1874

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Édouard Manet. Boating, 1874

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Henri Matisse. Woman with a Hat. 1905

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Stanley Cursiter. Tea Room. 1913

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William Strang. Lady with a Red Hat. 1918

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Francis Campbell Boileau Cadell. A Lady in Black. 1926

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Réne Magritte. The Intimate Friend. 1926

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William H. Johnson. Two Women with Hats. ~ 1939-1940

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Jacob Lawrence. Builders. 1974

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Fernando Botero. Dancing in Columbia. 1980

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www.justcurious.ca

Header Art: Peter Paul Rubens. Le Chapeau de Paille. 1622-25