Portret van koningin Wilhelmina, staande naast een stoel 1897

Heinrich Wilhelm Wollrabe captured this portrait of Queen Wilhelmina, standing beside a chair, using photography. As a female monarch in a time of significant social and political change, Wilhelmina navigated the complexities of leadership while embodying the evolving roles of women. This image, with its formal composition and regal bearing, reflects both the personal and the political aspects of Wilhelmina’s life. The queen is depicted in a way that reinforces her authority, yet there’s an undeniable sense of vulnerability. The way she carries herself suggests the weight of her position, and the expectations placed upon her. While it's a constructed image meant to project power, we can ponder how Wilhelmina negotiated her identity as a woman in a position traditionally held by men. This portrait invites us to consider the narratives of women in power, the constraints they face, and the ways they redefine leadership.