Queen Elisabeth of Belgium (La Reine Élisabeth de Belgique)

Art Historical Context

In 1917, amid the harrowing final years of World War I, French artist Besnard created this striking portrait etching of Queen Elisabeth of Belgium Known for her extraordinary compassion—nursing wounded soldiers and rallying international support for her invaded nation—Elisabeth became a symbol resilience and humanity. Besnard, a of Symbolist-influenced portraiture and decorative arts, captured her poised dignity, reflecting the era's admiration for royal fortitude during crisis. The work employs a sophisticated mixed-media technique: etching for precise lines, drypoint for velvety burrs that add expressive depth, and printed tone for subtle shading on laid paper. This combination yields a rich, tonal luminosity typical of fine printmaking, allowing intimate details like fabric textures and facial nuances to emerge, making it accessible yet luxurious as a multiple-image medium. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's print collection as a generous gift honoring the museum's 50th anniversary, this piece highlights Besnard's printmaking prowess and the cultural reverence for Elisabeth's wartime legacy, inviting visitors to ponder leadership's quiet power.

About the Artist

Albert Besnard · 1849–1934

Paul-Albert Besnard, known as Albert Besnard, was born on June 2, 1849, in Paris to an artistic family: his father, Louis Adolphe Ferdinand Besnard, was a history painter and pupil of Ingres, while his mother, Marie Louise Pauline Vaillant, was a noted miniaturist trained under Lizinska de Mirbel. Precociously talented, he began his training under Jean-François Brémond before entering the École de...