Vrouw in klederdracht met een hond aan een water c. 1900 - 1910

G. Hidderley made this photograph of a woman in traditional dress with a dog by the water. Looking at it now, I wonder what it was like to be there, both for the sitter and the photographer. The woman is perched on what looks like a stone pier, her dark dress a strong contrast to the pale sky and water. I imagine the air was crisp, maybe a little salty, and the sound of the waves lapping against the stones. Was it a chore, this sitting? I can imagine her thinking about other things, maybe the dog was a welcome distraction. And Hidderley, what were they trying to capture? A moment in time, a way of life? It reminds me of other paintings and photos of people in their element, doing their thing. There's a sense of connection, even across time, that artists can tap into. It’s like we're all in this conversation together, building on each other's ideas and experiences, trying to make sense of it all.