Gezicht op de Wijnhaven te Dordrecht 1900 - 1920

G. Hidderley captured this view of Wijnhaven in Dordrecht with, I guess, an early camera. Isn't it fascinating how a scene can be both so familiar and so distant? I can almost feel Hidderley, whoever they were, standing there, trying to frame the light and capture the essence of this canal. Back then, photography must have felt like a kind of magic, turning real life into these ghostly monochrome images. I think of the photographer squinting behind a big clunky camera trying to get the best angle. Look how the logs in the water create these incredible lines. They are stacked in this chaotic, yet structured way. Then your eye travels over to the boats, with their rigging that looks like a delicate drawing against the sky. You know, art isn't just about what you see, but how it makes you feel, and the thoughts it stirs up. This photograph is a quiet invitation to reflect on time, history, and the simple beauty of everyday life.