Portretten van het echtpaar Prins Hendrik en Prinses Maria 1879 - 1880

This is a sepia print of Prince Hendrik and Princess Maria, currently in the Rijksmuseum. The portraits are set in oval frames, decorated with floral patterns and ribbons, which give a sense of classical formality and a touch of romantic sensibility. The composition is structured by symmetry, which reinforces the social status and decorum associated with royal portraiture. This symmetry creates a balanced visual field that evokes a sense of order. The choice of sepia as a medium flattens the pictorial space, reducing depth and accentuating the two-dimensional aspects of the print. This flattening distances the figures, and encourages a reading of the image as a constructed representation rather than a naturalistic depiction. The use of ornamentation, while decorative, also functions as a signifier of class and power. By examining the formal elements, we can consider how this image not only represents individuals but also communicates broader cultural values about status, representation, and the semiotics of visual communication.