Frederica Louisa Wilhelmina (Louise; 1770-1819), prinses van Oranje-Nassau. Dochter van prins Willem V, echtgenote van Carel George August, erfprins van Brunswijk-Wolfenbüttel 1785 - 1795

Johann Friedrich August Tischbein captured Frederica Louisa Wilhelmina, Princess of Orange-Nassau, in a pastel portrait. The powdery, delicate nature of pastel lends itself to the soft features and refined status of the sitter. Unlike oil paint, pastel doesn't allow for easy blending. Each stroke remains visible, demanding precision and control. Tischbein masterfully layers these strokes to create subtle gradations of tone, capturing the texture of the Princess's elaborate hairstyle and the sheen of her silk dress. Pastels came in cake form and were made of pure pigment ground into a binder, usually gum arabic. They were popular with portraitists because they offered a convenient, relatively clean way to produce delicate, flattering likenesses. Though seemingly effortless, the creation of such a portrait involved considerable skill and labor. The choice of pastel itself speaks to the sitter’s social standing, as it was a medium favored by the aristocracy for its elegance and grace. This portrait, therefore, isn't just an image, it's a material statement about class and taste.