Fotoreproductie van een geschilderd portret van prinses Marie en prins Alfred van Edinburgh c. 1870 - 1880

This is a photographic reproduction, standing at 135mm in height and 98mm in width, by W.W. Hughes of a painted portrait featuring Princess Marie and Prince Alfred of Edinburgh. The image has a formal composition. We see the royal couple posed in front of a backdrop. The eye is immediately drawn to the rounded rectangular form, framing the royal portrait, embellished with lily-of-the-valley motifs and surmounted by a crown. Hughes's photograph underscores the performative aspect of royal portraiture, with its emphasis on staging, costume, and symbolic representation. The floral frame and regal crown serve as semiotic markers of the couple's status. These surrounding elements evoke a sense of nostalgia and idealization, typical of representations of royalty. The photographic reproduction, encased in decorative borders, acts as a symbol of constructed identity and curated image-making, leaving us to ponder the layers of representation and the cultural significance of royal portraiture.