Nest van de snor met eieren, gevlochten van piekgrasbladeren bij het Naardermeer c. 1900 - 1930

Richard Tepe created this gelatin silver print of a bird's nest sometime in the early 20th century, likely in the Netherlands. It's part of a larger movement of artists turning their attention to the natural world, spurred by both growing industrialization and the increasing popularity of nature as a space of leisure and scientific inquiry. The photograph draws on conventions of landscape and still life, framing the intimate scene of the nest within a dense tangle of foliage. The image, rendered in the stark tones of early photography, may allude to a desire to capture a vanishing rural idyll. Understanding this image benefits from researching the rise of nature photography as a distinct genre, and the complex historical relationship between urbanization and the longing for untouched landscapes. By examining the image through the lens of social and cultural history, we can better understand the public role of art.