Portret van Wilhelmina Hedwige van Hessen-Philippsthal 1695 - 1713

This is Pieter Schenk’s portrait of Wilhelmina Hedwige van Hessen-Philippsthal, made around the late 17th to early 18th century. The print immediately presents a study in contrasts: the soft, organic curves of Wilhelmina’s face and hair against the structured heraldic symbols and precise framing devices. The composition is carefully arranged. Wilhelmina’s oval portrait is encased within a rectangular frame, softening its sharp edges with swirling foliate patterns. These design elements do more than decorate. Below, a coat of arms centers Wilhelmina within her noble lineage. Above, cosmological symbols of a celestial globe and a comet imply broader philosophical dimensions. The artist is using signs to situate Wilhelmina not just as an individual but as a figure of cultural and perhaps cosmic importance. The detailed textures, achieved through engraving, add depth to what could have been merely a flat representation. This piece is not a static depiction; it’s an active construction of identity and meaning.