Koningin Juliana der Nederlanden in haar kroningsgewaad 1951

Henricus Rol painted Queen Juliana of the Netherlands in her coronation robes, but when and with what, I couldn't say. I wonder if Rol felt the weight of history, standing before the Queen, palette in hand. Royal portraiture is a funny thing; it’s meant to capture likeness, sure, but also project power, grace, all that jazz. And this painting, it's got that official feel, right? But it also feels strangely vulnerable, as if Rol was trying to get at something more. I am thinking about the way the red robe is painted, how it drapes and folds, and the little touches of gold. The dark blues and reds create a regal feeling, and the green in the lower corner reminds you of a fairytale. Painters are always looking at each other, borrowing, stealing, riffing. Rol stands in a long line of artists trying to capture something elusive. Painting isn’t just about what we see; it’s about how we see, and what we feel, and what we imagine. It is a conversation.