Portret van Wilhelmina, koningin der Nederlanden, en Hendrik van Mecklenburg-Schwerin 1902

Editor: Here we have Ferdinand Robert Ebner's photograph from 1902, a portrait of Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Hendrik. The overall mood feels… staged, almost like actors on a set. It's quite formal, but also, the backdrop seems almost dreamlike, contrasting with the stark reality of their figures. What strikes you when you look at this piece? Curator: Well, first, let's think about the era. It's Edwardian. Everyone was stiff. So, they HAD to stand rigidly! I am more captivated by the artificiality you noticed. It looks like a theatrical backdrop doesn't it? They seem superimposed upon the scene. Do you notice that lack of…integration? The rigid couple feels disconnected, a little adrift from the implied world. Almost as if their formal duties prevented them from enjoying a single moment. What would have been a tender picture otherwise, becomes just the official document that the era demanded. But look at her holding the umbrella! Editor: Yes! It feels almost out of place. Like it was grabbed last minute and disrupts the portrait. Curator: Or a shield? We will never know. I can only speculate on her thoughts! Though I imagine how difficult it must be to pose like that. In the heat, heavy clothes. To give a glimpse, however faint, of a personality. I guess it succeeds, somehow. You feel empathy for this reluctant Queen. It feels revealing of the historical moment! It lets us gaze, and wander a little more. What did you take away? Editor: Definitely a new perspective on how historical constraints influence art, and on what can be achieved by just a slight, 'human' element of vulnerability. Curator: Indeed! Now, how about another stroll, shall we? There is one particular Titian I wish to talk to you about...