Portret van Emma, koningin-regentes der Nederlanden 1933

This portrait of Queen Emma of the Netherlands, now hanging in the Rijksmuseum, is anonymous, which is curious. There’s something incredibly tender about this work; it's rendered in soft pastels, with delicate strokes capturing her likeness. You can almost feel the artist’s hand gently applying each layer, building up the form with a mix of observation and, dare I say, admiration. I wonder what it was like for this artist, tasked with portraying royalty, balancing the formality of the role with the intimacy of a human being? Did they struggle to find the right balance between power and personality? The way the light catches the lace of her veil, the subtle shading of her gown – it all speaks to a process of careful looking and thoughtful interpretation. It feels almost like a conversation between the artist and their subject.