Vier kuikens in het gras 1900 - 1930

Richard Tepe made this gelatin silver print, titled 'Vier kuikens in het gras' or 'Four Chicks in the Grass,' sometime between 1864 and 1952. The gelatin silver process was a dominant method for black-and-white photography for over a century, prized for its fine detail and tonal range. Here, the process captures the delicate textures of the chicks' down and the blades of grass. The print's monochromatic palette emphasizes the contrast between light and shadow, lending a sense of depth to the composition. Tepe carefully used photographic techniques to immortalize a fleeting moment in nature. Photography, unlike painting or sculpture, is a medium deeply intertwined with technology and industrial processes. The gelatin silver print relies on mass-produced materials and standardized techniques. Yet, within these constraints, artists like Tepe found room for creative expression, blurring the boundaries between art and technology. Appreciating this print means recognizing the intricate dance between artistic vision, technological innovation, and the labor involved in producing the materials of art.