Spierkruid in bloei c. 1900 - 1930

This photograph, Spierkruid in bloei, was made by Richard Tepe. The way Tepe lets light shape these flowers shows a sensitivity to the alchemy of photography. Look at the way the light makes the fronds of the flower seem almost weightless. The overall effect is soft, but sharp contrasts in the image show the artist's understanding of light and shadow. In the foreground, we can see tiny blooms in sharp focus, but they quickly fall out of focus as they recede into the background, the artist seems to want us to examine the overall effect of the plant's growth, as well as its individual blooms. The composition reminds me of the work of Karl Blossfeldt. Like Blossfeldt's work, Tepe’s photography embraces ambiguity, inviting viewers to bring their own associations and experiences to the image. It is not just about the plant itself but about our relationship to the natural world.