Portret van koningin Wilhelmina met bontmantel en diadeem Possibly 1897

This portrait of Queen Wilhelmina with a fur coat and diadem was made around 1897 by Kameke. It's a photograph, a relatively new medium at the time, which democratized portraiture. Consider the materials involved: the photographic emulsion, a complex chemical soup, the glass plate or film on which it's spread, and of course, light itself. Photography was, and is, a potent mix of science and art, accessible to a wider range of practitioners than traditional painting or sculpture. Think of the labor involved, not just by the photographer, but also the workers in factories who produced the materials. And then there's the queen's attire, the fur coat, diadem, and pearl necklace that speak to the immense wealth and privilege of the monarchy, made possible by global trade and colonial exploitation. This portrait presents a unique intersection of technology, labor, and power. It's not just an image of royalty, but a snapshot of the complex social fabric of the late 19th century. By looking at photography through this lens, we can move beyond the surface to see its deeper cultural significance.