Twee mannen in klederdracht (waarvan de linker in vrouwelijke kleding) op een kade bij Volendam, op de achtergrond de Zuiderzee c. 1900 - 1910

Editor: Here we have a photograph from around 1900 to 1910, by G. Hidderley, titled "Two men in folk costume (of which the one on the left is wearing female clothing) on a quay at Volendam, in the background the Zuiderzee." It strikes me as rather odd; it's unusual to see what appears to be a man in women’s folk clothing. What's your interpretation of this work? Curator: Well, immediately, this photograph poses questions about identity and performance in the early 20th century. Volendam, being a traditional fishing village, became a popular tourist destination. Could this photograph be linked to that popularity, perhaps a staged scene for the camera, a popular form of entertainment or even protest? Editor: So, the dressing-up might be more than just a random act? Curator: Precisely! Think about the socio-political context. Early photography offered a powerful tool for shaping perceptions and even reinforcing or challenging social norms. Are they performing some kind of caricature of gender roles? Who commissioned or bought such images, and what messages were they intended to convey or subvert? We should consider the agency of those being photographed, or lack thereof. Editor: It's interesting to consider it in that light. It adds another layer beyond just a quaint, old-timey photo. It becomes a statement, of sorts. Curator: Indeed. This single image raises all sorts of crucial questions around representation, the marketing of Dutch identity, and performance that still resonate today. Editor: I see this photograph in a completely new light now. Thinking about it within a historical and cultural context, rather than just at face value, opens up new avenues of understanding. Curator: Exactly, and it underscores how the public role of art, including photography, has always been intertwined with social and political forces.