Gezicht op een gracht of vaart 1900 - 1940

G. Hidderley captured this view of a canal, with who knows what kind of camera, at some point in time. What strikes me most about this photograph is the tonal range, it feels like a monochromatic painting. This piece is all about texture and light, even though the colour palette is limited. Look at the stark, vertical lines of the bare trees against the buildings. The surface of the canal reflects the sky, creating a sense of depth and quietness. The reflections on the water, they’re not perfect, and that’s what makes it so captivating, so real. Consider the way this photograph embraces ambiguity. The lack of vibrant colors invites us to fill in the blanks with our imagination. It's as if Hidderley is in conversation with artists like Gerhard Richter who used photographic source material for paintings. Artists engaging with the world, and then showing it back to us.