Wilhelmina, koningin der Nederlanden, Juliana, koningin der Nederlanden, en Beatrix, koningin der Nederlanden, in een arreslee te Den Haag Possibly 1940 - 1941

Editor: So, this photograph, possibly taken between 1940 and 1941, captures Wilhelmina, Juliana, and Beatrix, three generations of Dutch Queens, riding in a horse-drawn sleigh. It looks quite formal and…distant. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The image immediately speaks to power, doesn't it? The subjects are members of the Dutch Royal Family and they are framed during the early years of the Second World War. This image may represent continuity and resilience in the face of Nazi occupation. The women are traveling by sleigh, evoking a traditional, almost fairytale-like quality, sharply contrasted by the knowledge of the grim historical context. The gelatin-silver print style of the image feels very grounded, documentary-like. Editor: It is interesting how the image can be seen as either escapist or defiant depending on its historical context. What does it mean for these royal figures, especially as women, to be subjects in this way? Curator: That is key! It disrupts conventional portraiture of powerful women of that era. Their apparent privilege intersects with the threat of national occupation. This piece challenges us to think about visibility, not just as a mark of status, but also vulnerability. They are asserting their position through an act of leisurely visibility. How might ordinary citizens have reacted to such a sight at a time when they faced food shortages and constant surveillance? Editor: It's all much more layered than I initially perceived. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. Thinking about this print, perhaps its lasting impact is its challenge to the simplistic notions of power, showing its complexities when mixed with gender, representation, and wartime exigencies.