Ere-escorte van Amsterdamse burgers bij de inhuldiging van koningin Wilhelmina 1898

Editor: This is "Ere-escorte van Amsterdamse burgers bij de inhuldiging van koningin Wilhelmina," taken by Albert Greiner in 1898. It's a gelatin silver print, and currently held at the Rijksmuseum. It definitely evokes a sense of ceremony, doesn't it? I find myself wondering, what significance do you think this photograph held then, and perhaps holds now? Curator: It whispers of a time of change, doesn't it? Wilhelmina's inauguration marked the beginning of a new era for the Netherlands. But it’s also about civic pride, immortalized in this gelatin silver print. You can almost smell the wet cobblestones and hear the clip-clop of hooves. Photography in those days had a certain weight. What feelings stir within *you* when you view it? Do you sense the eagerness in the air, perhaps? Editor: I guess so. There's an anticipation of the future, though everything's rendered in a very…sepia tone of the past, of course. Why capture this specific moment, of the honor guard, rather than, say, the Queen herself? Curator: Ah, excellent question! It speaks volumes, really. By focusing on these Amsterdam citizens, Greiner highlights the connection between the monarchy and its people. The image almost asserts that the monarchy *relies* upon its people. Consider the rigid formality; it's carefully arranged. It tells a deliberate story about the young Queen and the Dutch population, now doesn't it? What do you think that story might be? Editor: That the power rests with the people, to some extent. That's really interesting! It seems like a pretty progressive message for that time. Thanks for pointing that out. Curator: Indeed! The past always surprises us, when we look closely enough. I feel like I've gleaned new perspective here as well. It makes one consider how fleeting such a monumental moment must be!