Portret van Wilhelmina, koningin der Nederlanden 1908

This is a photograph of Wilhelmina, Queen of the Netherlands, captured by Guy de Coral & Co. The image is a product of photographic processes, combining optics, chemistry, and light. It shows the queen standing in front of a carpet with an umbrella in her right hand. Consider the labor involved, not just of the photographer, but of those who manufactured the photographic materials. The glass plate, the light-sensitive emulsion, the paper, and the chemicals all required industrial processes, and a global supply chain. The resulting photograph, in turn, became a commodity, bought and sold as a portrait of power. Photographs like this one were a means of democratizing images, but also became powerful tools in shaping public perception and solidifying social hierarchies. By understanding the material and processes involved, we can better appreciate the complex relationship between art, industry, and society.