Artwork
Queen Elisabeth of Belgium (La Reine Élisabeth de Belgique)
Queen Elisabeth of Belgium (La Reine Élisabeth de Belgique) is an ink print by Paul-Albert Besnard. It dates from 1917 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Albert Besnard’s 1917 print titled "Queen Elisabeth of Belgium" presents a stark, monochrome portrait of the Belgian monarch.
About this work
Overview
Albert Besnard’s 1917 print titled "Queen Elisabeth of Belgium" presents a stark, monochrome portrait of the Belgian monarch. Executed on Arches laid paper, the image captures the queen’s head and shoulders, her hair gathered back and a high collar framing her features against a deep, shadowy background that emphasizes her face.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts Queen Elisabeth, who served as Belgium’s queen consort during World War I. By isolating her visage and employing a somber tonal contrast, Besnard conveys a sense of dignity and resolve, reflecting the queen’s public role and the gravity of the wartime period.
Technique & Style
The print combines etching, drypoint, and printed tone (aquatint) to achieve its textured surface. Etching provides the linear framework, while drypoint adds a scratchy, velvety quality to the lines. Aquatint creates subtle tonal washes that deepen the background, resulting in a richly layered, atmospheric effect.
History & Provenance
Created in 1917, the piece emerged amid the First World War, a time when portraiture of national figures was often used for morale and propaganda. The print is catalogued as a work on paper by Besnard, though specific details of its exhibition or collection history have not been widely documented.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Paul-Albert Besnard (1849–1934) was a French artist, born in 7th arrondissement of Paris.
