Kinderen in klederdracht in Volendam, op de voorgrond enkele klompen c. 1900 - 1910

This sepia toned photograph shows children in traditional dress in Volendam, with some wooden clogs in the foreground. The lack of colour allows us to really focus on the image as a construction, a deliberate capturing of light and shadow. It’s an interesting study in how we record, and remember. The texture of the brickwork is picked out in strong relief, as are the cobblestones. This gives a sense of place, we know where we are. It feels like we’re really there in that moment, standing on that street. Look at the way the clogs are discarded, it almost feels like the children have just stepped out of them to play. It's a simple gesture, but it brings a real sense of life and movement to the image. It reminds me a little of the work of August Sander, in the way it attempts to capture a specific time and place. Like Sander, Hidderley seems less interested in capturing a likeness than in documenting a way of life. Ultimately, it's a potent reminder that art isn't just about what we see, but how we see.