Bloeiende kersenboomgaard te Apeldoorn c. 1900 - 1940

This photogravure by Richard Tepe gives us a scene of an orchard in bloom rendered in gentle sepia tones. I’m drawn to the way Tepe has captured the ephemeral quality of spring. Imagine him there, composing the shot, waiting for the perfect light. This isn’t just a record of a place; it's an attempt to freeze a moment of fleeting beauty. The delicate blossoms seem to float against the pale sky, their forms soft and yielding. Look how the light filters through the branches, creating a hazy, dreamlike atmosphere. There’s something about the scene that reminds me of early modernist painting, those first attempts to move away from representation toward something more felt, more intuitive. Tepe’s work, like that of many artists, is about capturing an essence, an experience, rather than simply recording a likeness. It's as if he's inviting us to step into this orchard and breathe in the fragrant air alongside him. The image resonates with a sense of longing, maybe for a simpler time. Artists like Tepe create a dialogue across time, each inspiring the other's creative vision.