Portret van koningin-regentes Emma en koningin Wilhelmina in rouwkleding after 1891

This is a small photograph of Queen Regent Emma and Queen Wilhelmina in mourning dress, mounted as a brooch. Though the artist is anonymous, we can consider this image within the context of late 19th century European royal portraiture and mourning rituals. The image conveys meaning through visual codes of royal authority and grief. Emma's dark mourning veil and Wilhelmina's somber expression speak to the weight of responsibility and the performance of public mourning expected of royal figures. Likely produced in the Netherlands, this brooch offers insight into the role of photography in shaping public perception of the monarchy. These were widely disseminated and consumed, solidifying the image of the royal family and reinforcing social hierarchies. Historical records, letters, and newspaper accounts would give us greater understanding of the cultural significance of royal mourning rituals and the ways in which the monarchy sought to connect with its subjects through carefully crafted imagery. Art history helps us understand that the meaning of an artwork is not inherent but emerges from its specific social and institutional context.