Bloeiende plant c. 1900 - 1930

Richard Tepe made this photograph, Bloeiende plant, without a date, using some kind of photographic process. It's giving me this very dreamy, almost ethereal, vibe. The tones in this print, ranging from a deep sepia to off-white, feels so considered, and I can imagine Tepe carefully controlling the exposure. The botanical matter is carefully arranged to fill the composition and the way the light catches on the edges of the leaves and the flower clusters almost makes me think of brushstrokes. Look at how the individual buds are rendered, like tiny dots of paint, or a constellation of stars, so sharp you could almost reach out and touch them. It’s like Tepe is saying that something as simple as a plant can be a whole universe, inviting us to slow down and really see. It makes me think of Karl Blossfeldt, who made similarly intense photographic studies of plants a little later. Ultimately, this piece is a reminder that art doesn't have to shout to be heard; sometimes, the quietest voices resonate the loudest.