Hair: Untangling a Social History

Hair grows on select parts of our bodies, and we- like our ancestors before us- manipulate it to tell our world who we are. Before we say a word to a new acquaintance, our visible hair announces our gender, suggests our class, and even hints at our religion and politics. This exhibition catalogue explores the meaning of facial, head, and body hair in western society from the Renaissance to the present, focusing on fine arts such as paintings, prints and photographs, together with objects from popular culture: hair care products and tools and objects made from hair.