Portret van Wilhelmina van Pruisen 1826

This is a portrait of Wilhelmina van Pruisen, made with printmaking by P. Gillo. It presents a figure who was both a member of the Prussian royal family and, by marriage, of the Dutch one as well. The image creates meaning through both visual codes and historical associations. She is adorned with lace, pearls and finery, signifying wealth and status. Though undated, it was likely made in the first decades of the 19th century when the Netherlands was undergoing major political upheaval after French occupation. What’s interesting to me is the way this portrait, created after the subject’s death, served the monarchy as a visual symbol during a period of nation-building. Archival resources might help us better understand the social function of royal portraiture at this time. The meaning of such images is contingent on the shifting sands of social and institutional context.