Takken van een naaldboom, met een dennenappel 1907 - 1930

Adolphe Burdet made this print of pine branches and a cone sometime before 1940, but the absence of a date raises interesting questions about its place in the history of photography and art. At first glance, it might appear to be a straightforward natural study, but in its time, such a close-up, detailed view also spoke to a growing interest in the natural world, fueled by scientific advancements and a broader cultural movement towards appreciating nature for its own sake. Produced in Europe, this image enters into a longer tradition of landscape art. Unlike earlier landscape paintings however, which were often commissioned by wealthy landowners, this image is more democratic and accessible. As a multiple, it could be widely distributed and appreciated by a broader public. We can look at the collecting habits of museums, galleries, and schools to understand more about the institutional forces at play. In Burdet’s work we find not only an aesthetic appreciation of nature, but also a reflection of changing social values and the democratization of art.