Begroeting van koningin Wilhelmina na haar inhuldiging, bij het Paleis op de Dam, Amsterdam Possibly 1898 - 1899

This photograph by Sigmund Löw captures Queen Wilhelmina's greeting after her inauguration at the Palace on Dam Square in Amsterdam. The sepia tones evoke a sense of history, but it is the geometric arrangement that structures our gaze. The photograph is composed around the linear recession of buildings and crowds towards the horizon. The architectural facades on either side create a rigid frame, drawing the eye along the processional route, accentuated by lines of spectators. Löw uses linear perspective to convey not just space, but a sense of order and hierarchy, typical of official portraiture. However, the slight angle of the shot destabilizes the symmetry, hinting at the dynamism inherent in such public displays of power. This interplay between formal structure and fleeting moment captures the complex relationship between the monarchy and its subjects.