Twee ganzen 1900 - 1930

Editor: So, here we have Richard Tepe’s photograph, “Twee ganzen”, which translates to “Two Geese,” taken sometime between 1900 and 1930. The realism is compelling! What a simple scene, almost frozen in time. What do you make of it? Curator: Ah, Richard Tepe...He had a keen eye for the quietly profound, didn’t he? These geese aren't just birds, they're almost characters. The photograph seems to catch them mid-gossip, don’t you think? Imagine the stories they could tell about the goings-on around the Rijksmuseum…where this very photograph now resides! What strikes *you* about their posture? Editor: I like that – gossip! Their necks are stretched upwards, like they are watching or listening intently to something out of frame. I hadn't really considered them as storytellers. Curator: Indeed! They’re quite theatrical, these fowl! Tepe managed to animate them, giving them personalities beyond just "geese." And think of the era – photography was still finding its voice as an art form. By framing them against that rustic fence, he’s placing them in a world, giving us a snippet of daily life from a century ago. It makes you wonder about the sounds and smells of that farm, doesn't it? Or even about our relationship with nature as it changes with time? Editor: Absolutely. I am seeing so much more beyond the simple image of two birds in a farmyard now! Thank you. Curator: And thank *you*! Art is nothing without someone to bring their own experiences to it!