Portret van Wilhelmina, koningin der Nederlanden 1896

This is a portrait of Wilhelmina, Queen of the Netherlands, made by Richard Kameke. Notice the elaborate lace collar, secured with a jeweled brooch. Lace, from ancient origins, was not merely ornamentation. It signaled wealth and status. The ruff, a starched and pleated variation of the collar, was fashionable among European aristocracy. It acted as a barrier, both physical and symbolic, between the wearer and the outside world. The rose motif, adorning the shoulders, has traveled through time, from ancient Greece to the Renaissance, as a symbol of love, beauty, and secrecy. The rose connects Wilhelmina to a lineage of powerful women depicted with floral symbols. The careful crafting and placement of the lace and roses invite us to reflect on the power structures inherent in royal portraiture. These symbols engage our collective memory, stirring deep, subconscious associations with power, beauty, and tradition.