Portret van koningin Emma c. 1900 - 1925

Adriaan Boer made this portrait of Queen Emma sometime in his life, using photography, which is a sort of painting with light. Look at the way the light falls on her face, it’s so soft, like he’s trying to capture not just her image, but her essence. The way the lace drapes, and the fabric gathers on the floor; these are the things that the camera loves. The textures are highlighted, becoming almost as important as the Queen herself. See the shadows under the table, the way the light catches the edge of the vase of flowers? These details gives it this otherworldly glow. It reminds me of those old master paintings, where light and shadow create drama. But it also looks forward to the portraiture of someone like Alice Neel, who was similarly interested in capturing the person, rather than just a likeness. It’s a reminder that art isn’t about perfection, but about seeing and feeling.