Havenwerkers bij een boot in de haven in Volendam c. 1900 - 1910

G. Hidderley captured this photographic image of dockworkers by a boat in the harbor in Volendam, Netherlands. This image offers a glimpse into the lives of working-class individuals in a Dutch harbor. It is a scene steeped in the socio-economic realities of its time. We see the labor-intensive nature of shipbuilding and repair, likely pivotal to the local economy. The workers' traditional clothing and the harbor's architecture provide insights into the cultural norms and historical context of the Netherlands. This setting reflects the intertwined relationship between the community, its maritime activities, and the economic structures that shaped their lives. To understand such images fully, historians delve into archives, local records, and period accounts to piece together the conditions of the time. The meaning of art is contingent on these social and institutional contexts.