Varken met biggen op Texel c. 1900 - 1930

Richard Tepe captured this image, "Varken met biggen op Texel," using photographic techniques common to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Tepe, working in a time of increasing industrialization, often focused on rural subjects. This photograph isn’t just a depiction of farm life; it reflects a specific cultural view of the Dutch countryside, emphasizing its simplicity and natural beauty. Consider how the pigs, symbols often associated with the lower classes, are presented here. Tepe frames them tenderly, almost elevating their status. Is he challenging social norms, or simply observing a facet of Dutch life? What does it mean to find beauty in the everyday? How does seeing this family of pigs make you feel about our relationship with nature and the animals we depend on? This image invites us to reflect on our place within the natural world, prompting questions about value, identity, and our connections to the land.