Fotoreproductie van een getekend portret van Isabella II, koningin van Spanje 1850 - 1900

Émilien Desmaisons created this photographic reproduction of a drawn portrait of Isabella II, Queen of Spain, sometime in the 19th century. Considered through a contemporary lens, this image exists at the intersection of gender, power, and representation. Isabella II reigned during a tumultuous period in Spanish history, and her image was carefully crafted to project authority and legitimacy. We must ask ourselves, what does it mean to be a female ruler in a patriarchal society? Isabella’s attire, the crown, and the ermine stole are all potent signifiers of royal status, and yet, they also speak to the limited roles available to women in positions of power. This portrait invites us to reflect on the complexities of female leadership, the burdens of representation, and the ways in which women navigate the constraints imposed upon them.