Queen Victoria 1861

John Jabez Edwin Mayall captured this image of Queen Victoria using the hand-colored daguerreotype process, a very early form of photography. As Queen, Victoria stood at the apex of a vast empire, a symbol of power and tradition. Yet, this portrait also hints at the changing representations of women. Victoria's demeanor contrasts with the more sensual depictions of women in earlier art. She's clothed in a dark dress, her expression conveying a sense of duty rather than overt sexuality. The lace shawl, an emblem of femininity, is draped over her shoulders, but does not define her. How does this portrait navigate the complexities of Victoria’s identity as both a woman and a monarch? What does it mean to see her represented through the relatively new medium of photography, making her image more accessible to her subjects? This portrait invites us to consider how the personal and political intersect in shaping the image of a queen.