Portret van Wilhelmina van Pruisen 1781 - 1801

Hendrik Roosing etched this portrait of Wilhelmina of Prussia, a princess of Orange and Nassau. Born a princess of Prussia, Wilhelmina embodies the aristocratic class and the societal expectations placed upon women of nobility during the 18th century. The portrait serves as a visual representation of power and status, achieved through controlled visual codes. The subject's elaborate hairstyle and elegant attire exemplify the fashion and material culture of the Dutch elite. It would be interesting to research archives and historical documents to reveal the power structures and social norms of the time. Investigating the patronage networks and artistic institutions that supported artists like Roosing might reveal more about the artwork’s cultural context. The meaning of art is always dependent on social and institutional context.