Tak van een skimmia c. 1900 - 1930

Richard Tepe made this photograph of a sprig of skimmia. It’s got this silvery, sepia tone, like an old memory. I imagine Tepe in his studio, carefully arranging the leaves and tiny white flowers. He’s probably thinking about light, about capturing the delicate structure of the plant. I get a feeling of quiet patience, of really looking. Think about the way the light catches the edges of the leaves, how each tiny flower seems to have its own little shadow. It’s a simple subject, but there’s a whole world in there, isn't there? And it's a reminder that artists are always looking at each other's work, building on ideas, and finding new ways to see. It’s a back and forth, a constant conversation.