Portretten van Wilhelmina, koningin der Nederlanden, en Hendrik van Mecklenburg-Schwerin 1900 - 1910

This anonymous postcard immortalises Wilhelmina, Queen of the Netherlands, and Hendrik of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. The artist uses a delicate hatching technique, creating subtle tonal shifts that evoke the feel of an old photograph. This method mimics the way light captures a fleeting moment, turning a mechanical reproduction into a more intimate portrayal. Look closely at the Queen’s face. Notice how the artist uses subtle variations in line density to define her features, especially around the eyes and mouth. There's a softness in her expression, a hint of vulnerability, that’s accentuated by the wispy lines around her face. It’s as if the artist is trying to capture not just her likeness, but also a sense of her inner self. The way the dress and crown are detailed contrasts with the more roughly finished background, bringing the subjects closer to the viewer. This postcard reminds me of Gerhard Richter's blurred photographs, works that play with the tension between representation and abstraction, revealing the inherent ambiguity of images.