Was it Oscar Wilde who said that you should take flippant things seriously and serious things flippantly? It’s certainly true that we often take art criticism rather seriously, so today, courtesy of DailyArt online magazine, we’re going to be slightly flippant about art, or rather about hats in art. There’s a fun article by Magda Michalska on that very subject and I thought we might share a head-topping image or two with you.
I’ve never it seen before, but I rather like Rembrandt’s elegant older man, featherly be-hatted above. Magda says: “I love Rembrandt’s paintings; he was a master of portraiture and fluffy hats in art! He made many self-portraits, always posing in a different hat. This time, however, he painted an elderly but still handsome man, who might have held a high-rank position (look at his fur coat!) in the military, as he was wearing a gorget, that is a steel collar designed to protect the throat.†I’m not too sure how seriously I would take his orders with that black feather waving in the breeze before my eyes.
And I’m not quite sure what to make of this moustache hat by Jean Arp. Is it Dada or simply gaga?
Finally, any article about hats could not be without a Magritte bowler. Here’s another enigmatic one.
Our thanks to Magda for her not-too-serious article, where you can see more hats and which you can read by clicking here.
Speaking of hats, above are some ladies on a Watermill painting course enjoying convivial conversation in a local café. We would love you to join us for one of our famous relaxing and inspiring creative courses next year, and we will even loan you sun hats if you forgotten yours. And there is an Early Bird offer of a discount of £75 (English pounds) on every creative course if you book now. Please click here for more details.