Woman in a Hat Series

The “Woman in a Hat” Series is a varied edition work of five intaglio prints. These “Woman in a Hat” pieces produce an image of an old-fashioned lady, in profile view, in a nineteenth century gown and hat. This piece was the start of my feminist body of work. It represents all the women that came before me, who endured the patriarchy when it was at its most confining. It represents the women who fought for women's rights. It is a symbol of admiration for those women’s effort and capacity to enforce change. In this piece, the woman in the image is representing and honoring those who came before us. They deserve honor and respect because the past determines the future and we can’t forget the women who created the path that is our future. We have to remember the strong women who came first and fought for the freedoms we have now. This is a women and power series. The line work involved in this series parallels the importance of each and every woman who was part of the waves of feminism and the fight for freedoms for women and for all individuals. The lines are the details that need to be seen, understood, and given credit. A side theme of this work is a critique of the past patriarchal structures, specifically the expectations for how women had to dress and act in order to be seen as a support to men. The roses in the work symbolize the delicate women of the past and the power that we have in the present because in spite of the delicate petals, there are strong and sharp thorns. The idea of this piece and the body of work that followed was created out of the dislike of societal construction and industry promotion, such as the beauty and fashion industries, the make-up industry, and self-altering culture of today. This series helped in understanding the history of women and the past that has created the present, which will determine the future. I hope that this series introduces and sparks remembrance of the first independent women and the women who began the fight for equality and choice. This series will speak to those who view it and support respect for the past.