Dorpsgezicht met een water en gezicht op de Speeltoren te Edam c. 1920 - 1940

Editor: Here we have “Dorpsgezicht met een water en gezicht op de Speeltoren te Edam,” a photograph taken by G. Hidderley sometime between 1920 and 1940. The monochrome palette gives it such a sense of history. How do you approach an image like this? Curator: I see this work primarily through the lens of its material production. Consider the photographic process of the time—the specific chemical emulsions, the paper, the darkroom practices. The soft focus typical of Pictorialism also speaks to a very particular material manipulation aiming for painterly effects. How does the means of production influence the way we consume and understand this cityscape? Editor: So you're focusing less on the picturesque scene and more on…the stuff it's made of? Curator: Exactly. Think about the labor involved—the photographer’s skill, the availability of materials, even the social context that allows for the leisure to create such images. It prompts us to think about photography not just as representation but as a tangible object imbued with social and economic relations. This wasn't just 'taking' a picture; it was a crafted commodity. What impact did this mode of photograph production have in the society? Editor: I hadn’t considered that level of detail before. Thinking about the material process gives me a better understanding of what was involved to make art at that time. Curator: Indeed. By focusing on the materials and the process of production, we can move beyond the surface representation and engage with the deeper social and historical forces at play. Editor: I definitely learned something new! I appreciate that new approach, thanks! Curator: Likewise! Approaching art with that perspective creates another pathway into deeper meaning.