Portret van Wilhelmina, koningin der Nederlanden 1885 - 1907

Curator: Hello, and welcome. Today we're looking at a piece called "Portret van Wilhelmina, koningin der Nederlanden"—or, Portrait of Wilhelmina, Queen of the Netherlands—a drawing held in the Rijksmuseum collection and created at some point between 1885 and 1907. Editor: Well, the first thing that strikes me is its stillness. It's a remarkably poised image, almost photographic, yet there's an undeniable warmth in the softness of the pencil work. A quiet sort of strength. Curator: Precisely. Though attributed as Anonymous, the portrait achieves an almost photographic likeness through incredibly fine, delicate pencil work, especially when you look at the textures of her hair and dress. Notice the tight, controlled lines—a true demonstration of academic artistry. Editor: And the framing—that oval emphasizes a sense of gentle enclosure. It’s like peering into a precious memory. Her gaze is steady, but it’s the subtle shadowing that really draws you in, creating a space for contemplation. What stories does this young queen hold within her? Curator: Consider the context: Wilhelmina acceded to the throne in 1890 at just ten years old. So this piece might depict her shortly before or after that momentous occasion. I believe it uses her youthful visage to project a sense of steadfastness needed at the beginning of her reign. Editor: Absolutely. It's the formal constraints working so elegantly with her humanity that’s captivating. Even the line work isn't clinical, which makes a strong visual statement on how one might render both royal power and personal character. The pearls around her neck hint at nobility. I also notice how light seems to embrace her face as though she were bathed in a divine glow. Curator: True, and in looking closer, that subtle radiance seems almost prophetic considering her historic reign. Looking at "Portret van Wilhelmina," we've uncovered so much about craft, context, and the careful construction of identity, as it seems that royal portraiture is indeed a strategic practice, to say the least! Editor: Indeed. It's as if this portrait invites us not just to observe but also to imagine—to engage with the enigma of a figure both public and intimately private, especially in the soft lines of graphite that speak silently beyond history.