Man in een schildersatelier c. 1900 - 1910

This small black and white photograph by G. Hidderley gives us a glimpse into a painter’s studio. I can imagine Hidderley setting up this shot, fiddling with the light just so, to capture a fellow artist in their natural habitat. The artist, pipe in mouth, sits calmly, surrounded by the tools of their trade: jugs of water, a sturdy easel, and of course, a work in progress. The painting behind him has pale, ghostly tones with dark outlines, hinting at a figure emerging from the canvas. It’s raw and unfinished, yet full of potential. I bet the artist was wrestling with it, layering and scraping back, trying to find the right balance. I sympathize with the struggle, the endless dance between intention and accident. Each brushstroke is a conversation, a back-and-forth between the artist and the painting itself. It's all about seeing what happens, what emerges, and trusting the process.