Portret van Wilhelmina van Pruisen 1790 - 1801

Hendrik Roosing created this print, "Portret van Wilhelmina van Pruisen," sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. Wilhelmina, a Prussian princess, was a prominent figure during a tumultuous period in Dutch history. Her marriage to William V, the Prince of Orange, solidified Prussian influence in the Dutch Republic. She became deeply embroiled in the political conflicts between the Patriots, who sought democratic reforms, and the Orangists, who supported the Stadtholder's rule. Wilhelmina was not afraid to exert her influence, and this portrait captures something of her determination. Portraits of women of this era often served to reinforce their status and project an image of virtue and authority, but this one hints at the subject's involvement in the political sphere. It serves as a reminder of the complex intersection of gender, power, and politics in the late 18th century.