Jongen van de blauwe kiekendief in hun nest 1937

Editor: This black and white photograph, titled "Young Montagu's Harrier in their Nest," was taken in 1937 by Richard Tepe. The texture really grabs me. The fluffiness of the chicks contrasted with the rough nest. What stands out to you about this piece? Curator: From a materialist perspective, the choice of black and white is fascinating. Consider the historical context – 1937, the tail end of the Great Depression. Black and white photography, while potentially an artistic choice, also represents an economy of means. What impact does the lack of color have on our interpretation of "nature"? Does it depoliticize it? Editor: That's interesting, I hadn't thought of the material constraints. It does make me think about how controlled "natural" images are and that photography changes the relation with the raw environment. Curator: Exactly. And beyond the immediate context, how does photography itself, as a manufactured medium dependent on specific materials and technologies, shape our perception of the natural world? How do we "consume" this image and what assumptions are embedded within that act of consumption? Do you think about the work of the ornithologists collecting nests to photograph? Editor: The more you talk, the more the picture questions my view of untouched nature. I suppose, by circulating these images in museum, the context is totally transformed into a study case and a curiosity. Curator: Precisely! So, while seemingly a straightforward depiction of nature, Tepe's photograph offers rich insights into the socio-economic conditions of its time and the mediated relationship between humanity and the environment. Editor: I never thought I’d analyze a bird nest photo for what it says about society and manufacture, but that's a really fresh view! Thanks. Curator: It has been a pleasure. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this picture, a whole new world opened for me.