Portret van Elisabeth Christine von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern, koningin van Pruisen 1737

Curator: Welcome. Here we have a Baroque print from 1737 by Johann Martin Bernigeroth, titled "Portret van Elisabeth Christine von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern, koningin van Pruisen," now residing at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: The first thing that strikes me is the contrast. The sharp, precise lines of the engraving capture her features with almost photographic clarity, set against this muted grey tone, evoking a sense of timelessness and perhaps, a bit of formality. Curator: Yes, Bernigeroth really makes use of the graphic medium here, employing various linear techniques to create tonal variation, effectively rendering the Queen’s textures from the lace collar to the plush fur trim on her mantle. The inscription below provides both the subject and the artist, completing the formal framing of the composition. Editor: And think about that mantle, the ermine lining turned outward as an emblem. Royalty presented in visual shorthand! The diadem too… it all reinforces the iconography of power. There's a story being told, a calculated construction of image meant to project authority and lineage. Curator: Precisely! And if we examine the Queen's face, we find balance in its very structure. The symmetry, rendered with precision, reflects the order and reason so valued during the Baroque. Editor: That reasoned composure in her expression contributes so much. A very subtly serene presentation—this calculated serenity becomes its own symbol of power and calm leadership. This is the embodiment of composed authority. Curator: Agreed. Even the curves of her coiffure, while ornate, remain controlled, echoing this structured and dignified impression. A contrast perhaps with the more flamboyant royal portraiture we often see. Editor: Yes, more understated, focusing the symbolic weight on just a few, key elements. This visual restraint feels very potent, making it clear that it does not NEED excess display to convey importance. Curator: Indeed. Bernigeroth presents not merely a likeness, but a distilled essence of queenship through meticulously crafted formal choices. Editor: So, the longer you look, the more those deliberate visual decisions speak. An intriguing dialogue, spanning centuries, between subject, artist, and the symbolic language of power.