Acht meisjes in klederdracht, op de rug gezien 1920 - 1940

This small photograph of eight girls in traditional dress, seen from behind, was made by G. Hidderley. I can’t help but wonder what Hidderley was thinking, framing these young figures in their uniforms. It’s like a dance, a gesture captured in a fleeting moment, with a limited sepia palette and a tight composition. I am touched by the texture of the image. I can see the paper grain and the soft focus, which makes me think about the history of photography and how it has always been used to capture images of the everyday. I imagine the girls chatting, their skirts rustling as they move, maybe they are nervous, or excited to have their picture taken. Their hair tied up in buns reminds me of the work of Edgar Degas, who was also interested in the female figure. You can feel the history of painting, and the history of seeing, in the photographic process. Hidderley seems to be in conversation with the long tradition of artists who have tried to capture images of the world, transforming the mundane into something meaningful.