Portret van Juliana, koningin der Nederlanden 1911 - 1913

This photograph of Queen Juliana as a child, was shot by Herman Deutmann, sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. The sepia tone gives a timeless quality, but the details in the upholstery and the somewhat stern look on her face, ground the image. You can almost smell the history here, can't you? I love how the light catches the flowers she holds, and how they contrast with the dark socks and shoes. There's a tension between innocence and formality, a push and pull that keeps the eye moving. The fuzzy texture of the print, almost like a painting, softens the image, giving it an ethereal feel. Look closely at the way the light plays on her dress – it’s like a whisper of something delicate and precious. Deutmann’s portraits always seem to capture a certain vulnerability, even in his royal subjects. It reminds me a bit of Julia Margaret Cameron's work, that same focus on inner life. It's a beautiful reminder that art isn't just about what you see, but how it makes you feel.