Portret van Alexandra, princes van Wales c. 1870 - 1875

Editor: This page, entitled "Portret van Alexandra, princes van Wales", features three albumen print photographs, touched with mixed media drawings and photography. It's dated around 1870-1875, unsigned, and residing here at the Rijksmuseum. It’s striking how the photographic portraits are literally framed within the larger drawing – almost like theater. What do you make of this image? Curator: I see an incredibly potent piece of image management, reflecting the public construction of royal identity. The photographic portraits are mediated by the surrounding drawings, presenting Alexandra, Princess of Wales, within a carefully constructed narrative. Notice how the hand-drawn embellishments work to soften the relative newness and potential starkness of photography at that time. Editor: That’s fascinating! So, it's like a controlled image, managing her image, you say? Curator: Precisely. This isn't simply a set of photographs; it's an intentional presentation designed to project a particular image of the Princess to the public. How might the symbolism in the drawings contribute to that? Consider the settings, the poses. What sort of narrative do these elements seem to support? Editor: The idyllic landscape scenes are all very romantic, almost sentimental. They emphasize her role, and align her with notions of natural beauty and…regal tranquility, perhaps? The royal coat of arms at the top only furthers the message. Curator: Exactly! And remember, the late 19th century was a period of great social and political change, which affected the perception and role of the monarchy. The proliferation of photography provided an ideal medium to produce, reproduce, and circulate specific ideas, fashion, and status throughout society, making pages like this especially vital tools. Editor: I never considered how curated and deliberate even seemingly simple portraits can be, especially concerning power and public image! It is more than an album; it’s historical information on visual terms. Curator: Indeed. Seeing art as active participants in the creation and distribution of knowledge makes the visual record so much richer, doesn't it?