Beatrix, koningin der Nederlanden, Irene, prinses der Nederlanden, en Margriet, prinses der Nederlanden, eten beschuit met muisjes ter gelegenheid van de geboorte van Christina, prinses der Nederlanden, op 18 februari 1947 1947

Curator: This photograph, taken in 1947 by an anonymous artist, captures Beatrix, Irene, and Margriet of the Netherlands eating celebratory 'beschuit met muisjes'. The location is currently the Rijksmuseum. What's your initial response to it? Editor: A bit austere, almost clinical for what should be a heartwarming moment. It makes me think of how basic needs and celebrations were likely met given post-war shortages. Curator: That’s insightful. Thinking about the historical context of this photo, taken so soon after the Second World War, impacts our understanding of not only royal life, but domestic Dutch life. Birth announcements and the 'beschuit met muisjes' ritual are incredibly gendered performances, rooted in tradition, especially considering Queen Juliana's struggles bearing children, specifically females in line for the throne. Editor: The very choice of the photographic medium points to a social context beyond royalty. Think of the rise of affordable cameras and film developing available to many more levels of Dutch society. Consider how that affected representation, recording everyday materials, domestic spaces and activities that royalty were part of, in real time, to project power or relate more to the public. Curator: Absolutely. Photography’s democratization provided new ways for the royal family to cultivate its image and maintain relevance. Post-war, projecting normalcy would have been crucial in regaining national stability and citizen’s trust in political structures, after a period of severe distress under Nazi Occupation. Editor: And that extends to the celebratory food on the table as material. "Beschuit met muisjes," rusks topped with anise seeds, specifically dyed pink or blue depending on the baby’s gender; a common and accessible treat consumed across socio-economic lines. The cultural labor involved in their production and presentation shouldn't be dismissed. Curator: Exactly. The image thus speaks volumes about the gendered expectations, cultural rituals, and the sociopolitical environment of the Netherlands at the time. Its impact lies in understanding it within the broader intersectional narratives around identity, gender, race, and nationhood. Editor: It definitely highlights how seemingly mundane objects, when viewed through the lens of production and consumption, reveal profound social relationships and hierarchies. A moment frozen in time revealing so much.