Portret van Willem II, koning der Nederlanden 1847

Editor: Here we have "Portrait of William II, King of the Netherlands," dating from 1847. It’s rendered in graphite, charcoal, or possibly even an engraving, judging by the fine lines. It has this regal, almost severe quality... What captures your attention most about this portrait? Curator: The gaze, undeniably! It's a stare that feels like it wants to know you as much as it wants you to acknowledge him. Funny, isn't it, how a simple drawing can attempt such grand power plays? And then there's all that ornamentation—the medals and braids. You get the feeling he’s very aware of his image. But is it pride, or the weight of expectation, etched onto his face? What do you think? Editor: I suppose it could be either! All those symbols of authority can seem a bit… suffocating. It makes me wonder about the person beneath the regal exterior. Curator: Precisely! The trick with portraits of rulers is always this dance between the person and the position. They were supposed to be simultaneously human and yet embody a nation. The artist attempts a record, the sitter demands control. Each looking into a mirror only they hold. So really, a drawing like this is about as close to time travel as we're likely to get, don't you think? Editor: That’s a lovely way to put it! I’ll definitely think about portraiture differently from now on. Curator: Wonderful! I find art's all the richer with new perspectives.