Portret van Victoria von Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha als Princess Royal 1858

Editor: This is a lithograph, a print really, titled "Portret van Victoria von Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha als Princess Royal" from 1858 by Carl Mayer. It’s currently held at the Rijksmuseum. I’m immediately struck by how delicate it is; there’s something almost ethereal about the way the princess is portrayed. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Delicate is a good word! It whispers of the Romantic era, doesn’t it? And I think it's more than just her finery, the lace, or the soft rendering of her features. This lithograph gives the princess an almost dream-like quality. What do you make of the context here, an image produced during the height of Victoria's reign, reproduced as a print? Editor: It's interesting to consider its purpose as a print. Was it intended for mass consumption, like a royal "poster" of sorts? A way to connect the monarchy with the people? Curator: Exactly! Think about photography just emerging as a way to capture images and the democratising power of printmaking that allowed the wider populace to connect with royal figures, spreading and controlling an idealised image of royalty, one which served to consolidate power and admiration in a rapidly changing world. What do you make of her gaze, directed to us, the viewers? Editor: I suppose it is supposed to portray her as approachable and engaging to all members of the public at a point where media begins to make public figures seem ever closer. It almost feels calculated, this 'everywoman' representation. Curator: Calculated, yes, and effective! Lithographs like this served a crucial role in shaping public perception. That combination of artistic sensibility and canny public image making gets me every time. I find the tensions here truly exciting. Editor: I'm now starting to notice all these details, all these things at play that contribute to this dream-like effect that says a lot more than is at first apparent. Thanks!