Twee vrouwen in Volendamse klederdracht lopend langs een boerderij c. 1900 - 1910

G. Hidderley captured these two women in Volendam dress walking by a farm with, what seems to be, a photographic process. It looks like a sepia print; it's all about the subtle tones, the moody grays and browns that create a very particular atmosphere. What strikes me is the texture, or the suggestion of it. Look at the haystack on the right side of the image - the way the light catches those strands is just gorgeous. And then there are the costumes; those vertical lines on the dresses create a great rhythm. Even though it's a flat image, you can almost feel the weight of the fabric, the coarseness of the straw. It’s these little details that bring it all to life. The person working on the roof of the farm adds a sense of timelessness. It’s like looking at a piece of history, something frozen in time. This image reminds me of some of the early landscape photography, especially in the way it captures a specific sense of place. It’s more than just a picture; it’s a feeling. It’s about the texture of life, the simple beauty of everyday scenes. And isn't that what art is all about?