Tak met een kever Possibly 1927

This is a photograph of a beetle on a branch, made by Richard Tepe sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. It’s a modest sized print, but what it lacks in scale it makes up for in detail, each part of the insect sharply rendered. I am so interested in how Tepe uses light and shadow here, to play with form and texture. Look at the bark of the branch, it has this mottled quality, light reflecting off it softly and giving it depth. The beetle is almost jewel-like, dark and reflective, and somehow also soft to the touch. I also love the foliage, which is slightly out of focus and ethereal. It looks almost like a dream. This interest in rendering natural forms reminds me of the work of Karl Blossfeldt, who photographed plants and flowers in extreme close-up. Both artists share a fascination with the hidden beauty and complexity of the natural world. Photography allows for a kind of ambiguity, encouraging us to consider different perspectives.