Koningin Wilhelmina (1880-1962) c. 1898

Curator: Let's spend a few moments with Bart van Hove’s terracotta bust, “Koningin Wilhelmina (1880-1962)", created around 1898. You’ll find it here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Wow, terracotta—it’s that raw, earthy material that somehow brings a regal portrait down to earth. And there are noticeable cracks across the face; she looks both fragile and monumental simultaneously. Curator: It’s quite fascinating, isn't it? Considering Wilhelmina would have been quite young at the time—a teenager, perhaps—Van Hove captures both her youth and the weight of her future role. The terracotta itself is interesting because of its affordability and ease of modelling. Editor: And what does that ease and affordability suggest about the audience or purpose? Terracotta lends itself to reproducibility; does that speak to accessibility, wider distribution, or even… democratization of the monarchy? Curator: Perhaps. Though, while terracotta allowed for preliminary models and studies, its perceived lack of permanence also implied a certain social distinction when compared to, say, marble. Remember, this was also during a resurgence of national pride—Wilhelmina becoming queen at such a young age was symbolic. Editor: You know, thinking about that “impermanence,” I’m fixated on those cracks. The broken quality almost serves as a metaphor. Royalty, tradition, and even the material, despite its history, can be fractured. What we make, or how we make it, matters. The making reflects instability of all materials, royal families included. Curator: It’s an interesting point—an almost melancholic take. I am really struck by how Van Hove handled her profile. Those tight curls around her face…the determined set of her jaw… It all seems to point to that inherent tension between fragility and power you picked up on. Editor: It’s like the artwork contains its own inherent critique… or at least reveals unavoidable material realities. Curator: Exactly. So, looking at Wilhelmina in terracotta, a medium accessible yet historically associated with more humble applications… It makes one really wonder how artistic intention, societal expectations, and pure chance combine. Editor: An interesting dialogue indeed: terracotta, power, and a teenage queen ready to forge her own path while burdened by material realities and an old family. Thanks for that reflection!