Jonge tortelduiven op een tak c. 1900 - 1930

Richard Tepe captured this image of young turtledoves on a branch using a photographic process. The sepia tones create a world that feels both intimate and timeless. I wonder what Tepe was thinking as he framed these birds. The composition has a really interesting balance between the almost gothic darkness in the background, and the luminous birds. The soft focus gives a dreamlike feel, and the birds a tenderness that is quite affecting. It's like the whole scene is holding its breath. I'm moved by this quiet study, and how it invites us into this intimate moment of animal life. It's a reminder that artists, regardless of their medium, are always in conversation with the world around them, translating what they see into something new and meaningful.