Rij huizen aan een klinkerweg, vermoedelijk in Volendam c. 1900 - 1910

G. Hidderley captured a row of houses along a cobbled street, likely in Volendam, with this photograph. It offers a glimpse into the socio-economic conditions of the time. The architecture and the unpaved roads reflect a pre-industrial era, where life moved at a slower pace. Volendam, a village known for its traditional clothing and fishing industry, was experiencing changes that would change its cultural landscape. Consider how this setting might have shaped the identities and experiences of its inhabitants. The buildings and cobblestone streets evoke a sense of community, but also perhaps a sense of being excluded from the modernising world. Hidderley’s photograph invites us to consider how the simple scene captures an intricate interplay between place, identity, and history. The photograph isn’t just an image of a street; it’s a window into a specific time and place, inviting reflections on progress, and the human condition.