Gezicht op de Appeldijk te Gorinchem c. 1900 - 1910

Curator: This is a gelatin silver print by G. Hidderley, titled "Gezicht op de Appeldijk te Gorinchem," taken around 1900-1910. Editor: My goodness, the quietness in this image! It's soaked in atmosphere. That immense tree hugging the left side—almost protective, don’t you think? Curator: Yes, its placement is very deliberate. Photography like this often showcased not just a location, but the progress of urbanization, the lives embedded within those architectural settings. The gelatin silver process itself offered incredible tonal range. Look at the subtle details in the brickwork and the textures of the leaves. Editor: It's almost dreamlike, that silvery glow. Did photographers from that era ever doctor these images in the dark room? To enhance effects of light? Curator: Certainly. Manipulation was quite common, part of the craftsmanship. We have to remember, even in what seems a straightforward streetscape, there's a creative construction taking place. Hidderley isn't just capturing, he's curating this specific view of Gorinchem's Appeldijk, directing our attention. Editor: It’s incredibly effective, then. Almost romantic, the ordinary made extraordinary by… light and shadow, wouldn’t you agree? All those shops and vendors hint at everyday bustle; this feels staged. There's labor present if you see a guy with a wagon full of material. Curator: And that brings in the social and economic elements. Street photography captures not only the urban landscape, but the lived experience of people who interact within that area, reflecting class, commerce, and societal norms, all within the seemingly objective frame of the lens. This is street photography by labor. Editor: Right. It does make you ponder who inhabited that moment captured in the frame; that worker, what he transported on his wooden carriage and also all who did not appear to get to live and move in this space at that time? Thank you! It offers lots to consider. Curator: Indeed, a compelling piece from G. Hidderley, showcasing the beautiful intersections of history, technique, and lived reality. Editor: Very beautiful and quiet like time that has been paused.