H.R.I.H. Princess William before 1888

This photograph of H.R.I.H. Princess William is part of a book, its brown tones evoking a sense of history. The portrait, confined within the book's page, emphasizes the formal constraints placed upon royal representation. The textures created by the half tone printing, from the Princess's intricate lace collar to her softly styled hair, are sharply contrasted with the blank page on the right. This contrast creates a visual tension, highlighting the artifice of the portrait versus the potential narratives that lie unwritten. The photograph’s sepia tones and its placement within the book draw attention to the act of archiving. The image prompts one to consider how the formal presentation and its structural context frame our understanding of identity, power, and the stories we choose to tell.