Pad door veld met bessenstruiken c. 1900 - 1940

Richard Tepe created this gelatin silver print, "Path through field with berry bushes," which now resides in the Rijksmuseum. The photograph presents an expansive field dominated by rows of berry bushes, and a central path draws the eye towards the horizon, creating a strong sense of depth. The muted, sepia tones evoke a serene and contemplative atmosphere. Tepe masterfully uses the linear perspective of the path to organize the composition. The careful arrangement of the bushes on either side functions as a form of ordering nature, perhaps reflecting a broader cultural desire to control and categorize the natural world. We can see a play between the organic, somewhat chaotic growth of the field and the rigid lines of the path, challenging fixed notions of nature versus culture. The structure of the photograph doesn't simply represent a landscape; it engages with complex ideas about space, order, and the human relationship to the environment.