Fotoalbum met vijftien opnames van de inhuldiging van koningin Wilhelmina en de inhuldigingsfeesten 1898 - 1899

Barend Groote created this photo album with fifteen images documenting Queen Wilhelmina's inauguration and festivities in September 1898. The album offers a glimpse into the carefully constructed image of Dutch royalty at a time of significant social and political change. Wilhelmina's ascension to the throne at the young age of 18 was carefully managed to project strength and stability for the monarchy. The inauguration was thus captured and presented as a unifying moment for the Dutch people. However, consider what may be absent from these images. As a woman inheriting power in a patriarchal society, Wilhelmina's position was fraught with complexity. These curated photographs served to solidify her legitimacy amidst traditional gender roles. How might the narrative of this moment shift if told from the perspective of the working class, or those excluded from the spectacle of royal power? While seemingly a straightforward documentation, this album invites us to reflect on whose stories are told and whose are left out of history.