Portret van Louise, koningin van Denemarken 1720

Martin Bernigeroth created this portrait of Louise, Queen of Denmark, using engraving techniques. The composition is dominated by an oval frame, neatly containing the queen’s likeness. Bernigeroth contrasts the smooth, open space of her face with the dense hatching used to define her elaborate hair and the heavy fabric draped around her shoulders. The formal structure, where the figure is captured within geometric boundaries, emphasizes the queen’s controlled image and status. Consider how the engraving technique, with its precise lines, reflects a period where representation was carefully managed. The portrait operates as a signifier, where each element—the dress, the hairstyle, the frame itself—contributes to the construction of royal identity. Note the inscription below the portrait, functioning as a caption, reinforcing her identity. These elements combine to convey power through symbolic representation, yet also invite us to consider the ways in which identity can be both constructed and perceived.