Takken van een vlinderboom c. 1900 - 1930

Richard Tepe made this albumen print, Branches of a Butterfly Bush, in the Netherlands, likely at the turn of the 20th century. Tepe worked as a photographer for the Nederlandsche Oliefabriek, NOF, a Dutch oil factory in Delft. His professional work intertwined with his artistic pursuits, and he became well-known for his landscape and nature photography. During this period, the Netherlands saw a growing interest in naturalism, with artists turning to the environment for inspiration and a sense of national identity. Photography, as a relatively new medium, played a crucial role in capturing and disseminating images of the natural world, influencing public perceptions and contributing to the construction of national pride. Art historians often consult archives, institutional records, and contemporary publications to better understand the cultural and historical contexts in which works like this were created and circulated. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.