Portret van prinses Juliana met speelgoedhond 1912

This is a photograph of Princess Juliana with a toy dog, made by Guy de Coral & Co. It’s an image that speaks to the public role of monarchy in the Netherlands, a role heavily shaped by imagery. Consider the setting. It's staged to look like a modest home, not a palace, suggesting an accessible, domestic image for the princess. The toy dog and flowers she holds further humanize her, presenting her as an ordinary child despite her royal status. This strategy emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a time of social and political upheaval when monarchies across Europe had to negotiate their relationship to the public. They were very aware of their public image and the politics of imagery. To understand this photograph fully, we must consider the social conditions that shaped its production. Researching the Guy de Coral & Co. studio might reveal insights into their clientele and artistic choices, while studying the Dutch monarchy’s communication strategies will further contextualize the image. Only then can we appreciate the carefully constructed message it conveys.