Inzegening van het huwelijk van prinses Juliana en prins Bernhard in de St. Jacobskerk in Den Haag, 7 januari 1937 Possibly 1937

Curator: This gelatin silver print, likely taken in 1937, is titled "Inzegening van het huwelijk van prinses Juliana en prins Bernhard in de St. Jacobskerk in Den Haag, 7 januari 1937" by Erich Salomon. It depicts the royal wedding. Editor: It feels somber for a wedding photograph, doesn't it? The grey tones lend it a weighty, almost historical atmosphere. Curator: Yes, it evokes a sense of tradition and the weight of royal responsibility. Consider the church setting, a potent symbol itself of stability and established order. Weddings are intensely symbolic occasions. The church would underscore that for a royal family, especially, who bear so much political meaning. Editor: And looking at the figures themselves, Princess Juliana's face is obscured by the veil. It's as though her individual identity is being subsumed into the institution of the monarchy. Even the Prince, in full military attire, is more a symbol of duty than a portrait of a loving partner. Curator: Indeed, the photographer, Erich Salomon, often used photography to subtly communicate psychological insights into his subjects. Here, we see the almost unbearable weight of expectation and performance of this historical event that continues to impact society and is now accessible because of the power of photographic records. The visual motif of light and dark contributes significantly to the symbolic weight of the image, further highlighting the performance of this highly symbolic wedding ceremony. Editor: I think you’re right. The limited light creates a mood that suggests formality and consequence over joy. We see what it is supposed to communicate as opposed to seeing any kind of raw emotion. But maybe in that somber tone, there’s something revealing about the expectations placed on them during a volatile period in history. They couldn’t escape it, much as they are captured forever here. Curator: A fascinating observation. It reminds us that symbols are never neutral; they reflect and reinforce power dynamics. This image preserves the image of their matrimony while raising profound questions of gendered expectation, power dynamics, and visibility in the historical memory. Editor: Ultimately, the photograph, seemingly just capturing a ceremony, really becomes a potent reminder of historical narratives. Thanks for expanding my viewpoint.