Drie jongens in klederdracht, zittend op een paar bielzen 1920 - 1940

This small photograph by G. Hidderley shows us three boys in traditional dress, sitting on some logs. It's a pretty straightforward composition, and I bet the photographer took a few attempts to get those kids to sit still! I'm thinking about Hidderley, and his life, and what brought him to this spot with his camera. What was it like to set up a shot in those days? How long did these boys have to pose? Did their parents make them do it? They don’t look too happy, do they? They look a bit lost in thought, maybe wondering when they can go back to playing with their friends. The sepia tones give the image a melancholic feel, connecting us to another time. It makes me think of other images I've seen from the late 19th and early 20th century, all those daguerreotypes. It reminds me that we're all just people, trying to capture a moment in time, to remember and share it with others. And that’s what artists have always done, isn't it?