Portret van Margaretha van Savoye, koningin van Italië before 1885

This photographic portrait of Margaretha van Savoye, Queen of Italy, offers an intriguing view of royalty through the lens of industrial reproducibility. The photograph itself, likely a collodion print, was a relatively new medium at the time, allowing for mass production and dissemination of images. This contrasts sharply with the unique, handcrafted nature of royal portraiture in previous eras, such as painting. Consider the material reality of the queen's garments: the intricate lacework and heavy embroidery, products of skilled labor, now captured and replicated through a chemical process. This juxtaposition of handmade luxury and mechanical reproduction raises questions about class, labor, and the changing nature of power in an industrial age. The photograph flattens the textures and complexities of the original materials, presenting a mediated image of wealth and status. By understanding the processes involved, we can better grasp the social and cultural forces at play in this seemingly straightforward portrait.