Haan in een fotostudio 1900 - 1930

Richard Tepe made this photograph, "Haan in een fotostudio" with gelatin silver print. The monochrome palette of this piece gives it a timeless, almost ghostly quality, and it’s the tonal range, from near-white to deep blacks, that really animates the image. It’s like Tepe is painting with light, building up layers of tone to create form and depth. Look at the texture of the rooster's feathers, each one distinct, almost vibrating with energy. And then there's the way the light catches the metallic water bowl, the surface seems to ripple. I can almost feel the cool smoothness of the metal. Each component is carefully placed, as if Tepe is orchestrating a scene on a stage, and I can imagine him in his studio, experimenting with light and shadow. I’m reminded of the work of Alfred Stieglitz, especially his cloud studies. Both artists are pushing the boundaries of photography, exploring the interplay between light, form, and emotion. Ultimately, it’s this ambiguity that makes the photograph so compelling.