Vrouwen in klederdracht op een markt, met manden en een juk 1920 - 1940

This image shows women in traditional dress at a market, captured by G. Hidderley, probably with a camera, though the date and location are unknown. I'm trying to imagine being there with Hidderley. What was it like trying to capture the scene? A painter can spend hours or days refining a composition, but photographers have to be quick to seize the moment. I can sense the artist searching for the best spot to set up, maybe trying to get the light just right to capture the textures and colours. There's something really interesting in the contrast between the formal style of the women’s dresses and bonnets and the everyday activity of the marketplace. And beyond that, the tonal range is so limited and muted, almost as if the colour itself is fading. The challenge would be finding a way to let the figures stand out against the backdrop. Photographers, like painters, are always in conversation with one another and the world around them, and they help us to see things in new ways and challenge our assumptions.