Tak van een astilbe c. 1900 - 1930

Editor: This is Richard Tepe's "Branch of an Astilbe," a photograph printed on paper, made sometime between 1900 and 1930. There's a ghostly, almost ethereal quality to it because of the muted tones. What do you see in this photograph? Curator: It’s remarkable how the delicate astilbe flower becomes a powerful symbol through Tepe’s lens. Look at the choice of the astilbe itself. In the Victorian language of flowers, astilbe represented "I’ll be waiting.” What emotional landscape does that evoke for you, knowing this was created during a period marked by world war and societal change? Editor: That's an interesting detail, it makes the image seem a bit sad now, maybe. The photographic style feels very considered too; why do you think he chose this sepia tone and shallow focus? Curator: Exactly. Sepia, deeply rooted in photography's history, often connects us to the past, lending a nostalgic or dreamlike aura. And, that softness, drawing the eye to certain points and away from others, resembles how memory itself functions—fragmented, selective, charged with feeling. Does the composition remind you of any other art styles? Editor: Maybe some Impressionist paintings with their focus on light and feeling? It feels more personal somehow. Curator: Precisely. Notice, too, how a seemingly simple flower takes on profound weight. Doesn't it almost assume a human-like presence in this portrait? Perhaps Tepe saw more than just beauty; maybe resilience and endurance during difficult times, echoed by the promise inherent in 'I’ll be waiting.' Editor: I never would have picked up on that. So, the choice of subject, the photographic technique, and historical context all weave together to give this image a more profound meaning. Thank you for enlightening me! Curator: It’s a dance between image and meaning; constantly shifting depending on who's observing and when.