Lijsterbes boom c. 1900 - 1930

This is a photograph of a Rowan tree by Richard Tepe. It lives here in the Rijksmuseum. Look at how Tepe renders the leaves and berries. It’s all about tonal variation, the dance between light and shadow. You can see how it’s not just about capturing a tree, but about exploring photography as a process. The sepia tones give the image a kind of nostalgic warmth, that feeling you get from old family photos. The texture of the leaves is almost palpable, you can imagine the rough bark, the smoothness of the berries. The way the tree is positioned against the building adds a layer of complexity, like nature reclaiming architecture. The leaves create this sense of depth, like looking into an infinite fractal. It reminds me of some of the tonal landscapes of the Barbizon school. But ultimately Tepe creates something very personal and intimate here, a quiet meditation on the beauty and complexity of nature.