Juliana, koningin der Nederlanden, en Bernhard van Lippe-Biesterfeld terugkerend van de kroningsfeesten te Londen op 22 mei 1937 Possibly 1937

This photograph, taken on May 22, 1937 by an anonymous photographer, captures Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld returning from coronation celebrations in London. The image itself, a small black and white print, speaks volumes about the technology of image-making at the time. Photography, by this point, was moving beyond the studio into the realm of photojournalism and amateur practice. This image may have been taken by a press photographer or even a bystander, yet it presents the royal couple in an almost casual manner, a style made possible by the rise of smaller, more portable cameras and faster film. Consider the material contrast here: the fur coat worn by Queen Juliana, a clear display of wealth, alongside the Prince's formal naval uniform, all rendered in the grayscale of early photography. The photograph's value lies not only in its historical documentation but also in what it tells us about the cultural and technological moment of its creation, reflecting the evolving relationship between image-making, society, and power.