Portret van Anna Paulowna Romanowa 1840 - 1871

Jean Baptiste Alfred Cornilliet made this print of Anna Paulowna Romanowa. Here, she appears as a figure of power and grace, embodying the conventions of 19th-century aristocratic portraiture. Looking closer, we can see how gender, class, and nationality intersect in the representation of Anna Paulowna. Born into the Russian Romanov dynasty, she became Queen of the Netherlands through marriage. Cornilliet's print reflects her constructed identity, with the trappings of royalty, such as her tiara and pearl necklace, serving to reinforce her elevated status. The gaze is averted, regal yet remote. Consider the role of portraiture in shaping historical narratives. Does this portrait offer insight into Anna Paulowna's personal identity? Or does it primarily serve to uphold the power structures of the time? This print invites us to reflect on how individuals are both shaped by and can challenge the societal expectations imposed upon them.