Gezicht in de vestibule van Paleis Het Loo in Apeldoorn 1900 - 1930

Richard Tepe made this photograph of the vestibule of Paleis Het Loo in Apeldoorn with a camera and darkroom equipment. The image shows the palace’s attention to detail. From the large hand-knotted carpet to the painted ceiling, every aspect embodies skilled labor. The walls are decorated with large landscape paintings, framed by ornate gilded plasterwork. Consider the labor involved, from mining and smelting the metal, to carving the molds, and applying the gold leaf. The photograph captures a space intended to impress, and the skilled craftsmanship speaks to the palace's wealth and power. Tepe’s photographic process, too, involved considerable skill. He would have been very familiar with the chemical processes involved in creating the image, controlling light, and mastering printing techniques. When you look at this photograph, it is important to consider not just the image it presents, but also the labor and materials that went into both the making of the palace and the making of the photograph itself.