Ruiterportret van Wilhelmina van Pruisen 1767 - 1816

This is Reinier Vinkeles's, 'Equestrian Portrait of Wilhelmina of Prussia', made sometime before the artist's death in 1816. Vinkeles employs hatching and cross-hatching to render the figures in a graphic style, with an emphasis on line and form rather than tonal variations. The composition centers on Wilhelmina and her horse, elevated above the other figures, suggesting hierarchy. This elevation is also achieved by the lighter palette used for the Princess and her steed, contrasting with the darker background, which creates a semiotic division: royalty versus the conventional and the subdued. The image challenges fixed meanings of gender by depicting a woman in a traditionally masculine role. This challenges contemporary views on power and representation through Wilhelmina’s assertive pose and the horse’s dynamic stance. The print invites us to consider how art engages with the shifting cultural and political landscapes of its time.