Portret van Maria Theresia, koningin van Frankrijk 1670 - 1713

Pieter Schenk produced this print of Maria Theresa, Queen of France, in the late 17th or early 18th century. The portrait captures Maria Theresa in the elaborate fashion of the French court, complete with an ornate wig, pearl necklace, and jewel-encrusted dress. As the wife of Louis XIV, Maria Theresa's identity was deeply entwined with the politics and expectations of her time. She was born into the powerful Habsburg dynasty. Her marriage to Louis XIV was intended to secure peace between France and Spain. Yet, as a queen, she was expected to produce heirs and maintain a regal image. This image, captured by Schenk, speaks to the queen's elevated status and her role in cementing dynastic alliances. However, it's also worth noting that the portrait, while celebrating her status, simultaneously confines her within the rigid constraints of royal representation. It reminds us of the complex negotiations women of power navigated in patriarchal societies.