Twee prentbriefkaarten met een portret van koningin Wilhelmina en prins Hendrik 1900 - 1905

These two postcards of Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Hendrik, by Wegner & Mottu, freeze a moment in time with simple monochrome. Like a charcoal sketch, the palette is limited, which pushes you to really notice the subtle variations in tone. It’s not just black and white, but a whole range of grays that create depth and form. I like how the textures emerge from this minimal approach, especially in the fabric of their clothes, and the sheen on the Prince’s suit. It’s like the image is built up from tiny little marks, each one carefully placed to create a larger whole. In the lower image, the way the light catches the Queen’s dress gives it a soft, almost ethereal quality. It's a detail that draws you in and invites you to imagine the texture of the fabric. It reminds me of the early photographs of Nadar, or the portraiture of someone like Holbein – artists who were also concerned with capturing likeness and character through careful observation. Like all great art, these postcards are more than just images; they're invitations to slow down, look closely, and see the world in new ways.