Twee vrouwen in Volendamse klederdracht lopend op een dijk c. 1900 - 1910

This small photograph by G. Hidderley depicts two women in traditional Volendam clothing walking along a dike. The subdued, almost monochromatic palette makes you think about the quiet moments of everyday life. I wonder what it was like for Hidderley to capture this scene, maybe a stolen moment or a carefully arranged composition? What were the women talking about? Maybe Hidderley was interested in the textures of their clothing, the cut of the light, or the quiet pride in their posture. The sky is a muted grey, blending into the water, with a distant windmill and some buildings suggesting a sense of place, a real place, full of lived experience. Hidderley, like other artists, was probably fascinated by the way the world reveals itself, one image at a time. Artists are always in conversation with each other, sharing ideas, riffing off what they see, and this little photograph is no exception.