Portret van Wilhelmina, koningin der Nederlanden 1892

Curator: Before us is a charcoal drawing titled "Portret van Wilhelmina, koningin der Nederlanden" which translates to "Portrait of Wilhelmina, Queen of the Netherlands." It was created in 1892 by Jacobus Johannes de Haan. Editor: There's a softness to this drawing. It's the charcoal, I suppose, creating a diffused light, but it makes Wilhelmina appear almost ethereal, quite demure. Curator: Interesting you say that. Consider the historical context. Wilhelmina ascended the throne at the young age of ten. This portrait was produced when she was around twelve, giving a visual manifestation to a very precarious moment of leadership for her. Editor: I immediately look to the lacework. The cap, the collar, the draped sash– it's all painstakingly rendered in charcoal. The labour involved in representing each delicate stitch speaks volumes about the value placed on representing Wilhelmina's position. The skill here signifies not just artistic ability but the material wealth associated with royalty. Curator: And consider the conventions of portraiture at the time, designed to project power and stability. There is realism certainly, but it feels idealized in a way. She's depicted as serene and composed, embodying a sense of dynastic continuity. The crown could easily be interpreted in a variety of ways. Editor: Agreed, it's less a straightforward likeness and more a presentation of constructed symbolism, carefully crafted for consumption by her subjects. You know the symbols and implications, the cultural weight, it all culminates in this idealized vision of royal grace. Curator: And the choice of charcoal, a relatively inexpensive medium, seems deliberate as a message of restrained leadership or availability. Not everything here has to indicate wealth. Perhaps this material consideration opens a dialogue of the material and the non-material. Editor: Seeing that symbolism combined with an understated medium like charcoal does provoke a certain feeling. Something almost, I want to say maternal. Curator: Jacobus Johannes de Haan masterfully depicts a historical icon in a crucial point of leadership. I am very glad we analyzed the implications more. Editor: And I found a fresh understanding of materials and work. Very thought-provoking.