Bos en beek landschap c. 1900 - 1930

Richard Tepe made this evocative photograph, Bos en beek landschap, sometime between 1864 and 1952. Looking at the image, I imagine Tepe wandering through the forest, squinting, trying to capture the light as it dapples through the canopy. The silver tones create a dreamy atmosphere. This isn't a document, it is a feeling! I wonder what Tepe was thinking about as he composed the image. Did he see the forest as a metaphor for something else? The reflection of the trees in the water creates a doubling effect. The blurred details force the viewer to complete the image in their mind. It reminds me of the work of other landscape artists. They are all trying to capture something so elusive. The image is both literal and deeply emotional. Ultimately, art is about seeing and feeling and trying to make sense of the world around us. And that's a process that never really ends.