Dimensions: height 220 mm, width 262 mm
Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain
Herman Deutmann captured these three portraits of Princess Juliana at sixteen, alongside her mother Queen Emma, within a photographic album. The photographs offer a glimpse into the construction of royal identity during the early 20th century. Consider the weight of expectation on Juliana, poised between girlhood and the responsibilities of monarchy. The presence of Queen Emma in one portrait underscores the lineage and expectations passed down through generations of women in power. These images present a carefully curated vision of royal femininity, designed to project an image of grace, duty, and continuity. These portraits invite us to reflect on the personal and public dimensions of identity, and the ways in which gender and power intersect in shaping individual destinies. The seemingly simple act of portraiture becomes a powerful means of constructing and conveying narratives of nationhood, duty, and heritage.
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