Portret van Maria van Pruisen 1878 - 1896

This portrait of Maria of Prussia was made by an anonymous artist with an unknown medium. The artwork brings up ideas of social status and gender, reflecting its cultural context. The image is made with visual codes of the elite, the fine clothes, jewellery, and elaborate hat signalling Maria’s status. The portrait would have served as a representation of power and social standing in a period of rigid social hierarchies. During this time, the Dutch monarchy sought to consolidate its image through carefully crafted visual representations. As an institution, royal portraiture reinforced existing social norms. Historical archives, genealogical records, and studies of court culture, can provide insight into the social conditions that shaped the artwork. The portrait reminds us that art is contingent on social and institutional context, as it reflects, reinforces, and occasionally challenges the social structures of its time.