Ruiterportret van Wilhelmina van Pruisen 1850 - 1930

This portrait of Wilhelmina of Prussia was made with the technique of etching, by an anonymous artist. Etching involves covering a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant coating. The artist then scratches an image into the coating, exposing the metal underneath. Acid is applied, biting away at the exposed metal to create recessed lines. The plate is then inked, and the surface wiped clean so that ink remains only in the etched lines, and is finally printed onto paper. The appeal of etching lies in its relative ease, compared to engraving. It allows for a freedom and fluidity of line, capturing the textures of Wilhelmina’s dress and the musculature of the horse. The process also allowed for the relatively easy production of multiples. In this case, the result is not so much a celebration of labor, but of the sitter’s status – a noblewoman who would have known a thing or two about horsemanship. The printmaking process makes this image more widely available, but its subject continues to broadcast a message of power.