Vier mussen op een mand op de rand van een balkon 1900 - 1930

This sepia toned photograph shows a basket with birds, resting on a balcony, made by Richard Tepe. It's one of those images that feels so casual, so off the cuff, that you know it was probably carefully composed. Look at the way the light falls, softly illuminating the rough texture of the woven basket. You can almost feel the individual strands of the wicker against your fingertips. The tonal range is subtle, with a limited palette, but there's a real depth to the image. See how the birds huddle together in the basket, their forms blurred and indistinct, while the bird on the handle stands out. The basket is set against a backdrop of rooftops, and the contrast between the organic forms of the birds and basket and the geometry of the tiles is really striking. Tepe's sensitivity to light reminds me of some of the early Impressionist painters. Like them, he seems interested in capturing a fleeting moment, a sense of atmosphere. This photograph isn't about grand narratives or historical events. It's about the quiet beauty of everyday life.