Portret van Wilhelmina, koningin der Nederlanden 1901

This photograph of Queen Wilhelmina, by Wegner & Mottu, captures a moment of composed regalness. The grey scale palette creates a scene that feels simultaneously real and like a fairytale. Look at how the light catches the jewels in her tiara and necklace, almost as if the photographers were painting with light. This is a staged portrait of course, and like all formal portraiture it’s about conveying power, but if you look closely at her face you can see she’s only a young girl. The way the light falls softly on her face invites a sense of intimacy, pulling the viewer in and making them feel like a confidant. I am reminded of Gerhard Richter, and the way that soft focus in his paintings creates a sense of something remembered. Photography is a conversation, it’s not simply about seeing, but about the play between concealing and revealing.