Vijfentwintigjarig Nederlanderschap van Koningin Emma 1904 1904

This bronze artwork was made in 1904 by Johannes Cornelis Wienecke. There's something so satisfying about the weight of bronze in your hand, right? You can imagine Wienecke, the artist, feeling that same weight, pressing the metal, coaxing out the image of Queen Emma. I imagine the artist, carefully crafting the queen’s profile, thinking about her legacy. The material itself has this gorgeous, earthy tone. The surface catches the light, highlighting the subtle details, the texture. It must have taken so much concentration and skill! You know, when I look at this, I think about the tradition of portraiture. It is like artists throughout history are in conversation with each other. Each work, in its own way, trying to capture a likeness, a feeling, a moment in time. This bronze piece is the artist's personal expression that celebrates Queen Emma's 25 years as a Dutch citizen.