Portret van Carolina, prinses van Oranje-Nassau by N.M. Schild

Portret van Carolina, prinses van Oranje-Nassau c. 1834 - 1840

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engraving

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portrait

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pencil sketch

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historical fashion

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romanticism

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19th century

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engraving

Dimensions: height 201 mm, width 147 mm

Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain

Curator: Looking at this engraving, the rendering is impressive but what first catches my attention is the slightly melancholic gaze, it’s quite magnetic. Editor: It certainly is. The work, entitled “Portret van Carolina, prinses van Oranje-Nassau," dating from around 1834-1840, is currently held in the Rijksmuseum. It's by N.M. Schild. Knowing it portrays Carolina of Orange-Nassau shifts my understanding entirely. Curator: Absolutely. Placing it within the context of the House of Orange-Nassau reveals layers of political and social power at play. The seemingly simple act of portraiture becomes a statement about lineage, legitimacy, and dynastic ambition. Did women have power or merely were powerful through the men in their lives at this period? Editor: Precisely. And thinking about it from an art historical perspective, the act of creating and circulating this image served very specific socio-political purposes. The proliferation of her image undoubtedly played a part in constructing and maintaining the image of the Dutch monarchy at this moment in time. Curator: I'm intrigued by the material itself. Engravings, often disseminated widely, allowed for a specific representation to be reproduced and consumed en masse. How did that shape public perception of royal women during that period? Editor: I imagine it offered a controlled intimacy. People could encounter a version of their princess outside of strictly staged public events. Curator: Right. Looking closer, the intricacy of the lace, the pearl ornamentation within her hair, speaks volumes. Each material signifies status and belonging within a tightly stratified social structure. We tend to read fashion for its aesthetics but actually its the power structures at play that define fashion and therefore that dictates it. Editor: Absolutely, the deliberate presentation of these items communicates a specific, intentional, narrative. Curator: Considering the historical weight, revisiting historical imagery invites dialogue about women's representation within political spheres, reminding us to actively examine the narratives woven into visual culture. Editor: Seeing art through these narratives makes understanding history so much richer, adding another layer of appreciation and engagement to works like this one.

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