Portret van Wilhelmina van Pruisen 1804

Curator: Let's turn our attention to "Portret van Wilhelmina van Pruisen," an engraving crafted in 1804 by P. Condé. Editor: It’s quite formal, isn't it? My eye immediately goes to the heavy fur stole, it gives an impression of weightiness, of almost being burdened. Curator: Exactly. Think about the political climate; Wilhelmina was a key figure in the Dutch Republic, her marriage to William V solidified Prussian influence, but also made her a target during revolutionary times. This portrait was likely created to project an image of enduring authority and strength. The Neoclassical style adopted here was fashionable and functional for that specific objective. Editor: Yes, the very controlled use of line speaks to that, along with the somewhat flattened space. I am thinking about her position. Even something like the placing of the hands is laden with visual weight. The almost languid placement has a symbolic language rooted in established posture and what they mean. The averted gaze speaks volumes too. Curator: And it is worth asking ourselves how those traditional codes are functioning here to reinforce or subvert expectations for a woman in power during a period of immense social and political upheaval? Her royal status is obvious. What’s less clear is what price was exacted from the powerful woman herself in those tumultuous years. Editor: She holds power in a patriarchal context but does not fully embrace it. Curator: Condé offers a nuanced representation—yes, strength, but perhaps also the weight of responsibility during troubled times, or how limited power she had. This makes me question the representation of female leaders and visibility then and now, what has changed? Editor: Considering how this image might have functioned in its original context brings so much to the viewing experience. Curator: Precisely. And examining its symbolic language gives us insight into Wilhelmina’s time, but it can also offer lessons on the continuities of female leadership.