Drie vrouwen wassen kleding aan de oever van een beek before 1898

This photograph by Charles Crick shows three women washing clothes on the bank of a stream. As a photographic print, the image’s shades of gray are affected by the tonal range of light reflecting off the clothing and figures, and the texture of the water. The contrast between light and shadow, smooth and rough, creates a subtle sense of depth, and imbues this scene of manual labor with a dignity that comes from a close attention to the subject. We can see the labor involved in the scene by the postures of the women, bent over the water's edge, scrubbing. Laundry work is a time-consuming and physically demanding task, especially before modern appliances. By immortalizing these women in a photograph, Crick draws our attention to their under-recognized work and the lives of ordinary people. It is through an appreciation of this photograph, its processes and techniques, that we find the deeper social and cultural significance embedded within.