Drie meisjes in klederdracht, staande voor een huis 1920 - 1940

Editor: This photograph, titled "Three Girls in Traditional Costume, Standing in Front of a House," was taken sometime between 1920 and 1940 by G. Hidderley. The sepia tones give it such an antiquated feel. What jumps out at you when you look at it? Curator: I am immediately drawn to the material realities depicted. Think about the production of the costumes themselves, the labor involved in creating those garments and wooden shoes. Even the brickwork in the building suggests a certain investment and societal structure. Editor: So you see it as a study in labor and materials of the time? Curator: Exactly. This isn't just a picturesque scene, it’s evidence of material culture and economic activity. The costumes indicate the girls' likely social class and the local industry that produced them. Look at the very texture of the print, the chemical process itself; each aspect reflects a historical set of resources and production. Consider, too, how photography itself altered representation. Editor: That's a fascinating point. I hadn't considered the photo as a product itself with a material history. It's like each element, from the girls' clothing to the print, is telling its own production story. How do you think this photo challenges traditional ideas of "high art"? Curator: Because it makes us reconsider craft, labor, and everyday life as legitimate subjects. It moves away from idealizing purely aesthetic value and forces us to consider the socio-economic forces shaping artistic representation and the manufacturing that serves as it’s backbone. Editor: That makes perfect sense. Thanks, I see so much more in it now. Curator: It’s all about seeing the story *in* the stuff.