Gezicht op een weg langs het water, een brug en bebouwing 1900 - 1930

Richard Tepe captured this photograph, “Gezicht op een weg langs het water, een brug en bebouwing,” with gelatin silver print. Born in 1864, Tepe documented the Netherlands at a time of immense social and economic change, when industrialization was rapidly reshaping both urban and rural landscapes. This photograph presents a calm waterway, with what appears to be a rural dwelling, which is juxtaposed by the looming industrial buildings in the background. In this seemingly straightforward landscape, Tepe subtly captures a moment of transition. The bridge could be viewed not just as a physical connection, but as a metaphor for the connection between the past and the future, between nature and industry. Through Tepe’s lens, we are invited to consider the relationship between progress and preservation. The image evokes a sense of quiet contemplation amidst inevitable change.