Mosbegroeiing 1900 - 1930

Richard Tepe made this photograph, "Mosbegroeiing," with gelatin silver print, and it just hums with quiet energy. I can imagine Tepe, bent over in the cool Dutch light, focusing on the intricate world at his feet. What’s it like to be eye-level with moss? This image feels like an invitation to slow down, to really look. The tones are muted, almost monochromatic, yet there’s a shimmering quality, a liveliness in the details. Each tiny leaf and stem is rendered with care, creating a dense, all-over composition. It’s funny how a photograph of something so small can feel so expansive. Tepe is in dialogue with other artists who invite us to appreciate the beauty and complexity of the everyday, of the natural world. It makes you wonder what other hidden wonders are waiting to be discovered, right beneath our noses.