Twee schapen met lammeren op Texel c. 1900 - 1930

Editor: This print, "Twee schapen met lammeren op Texel," or "Two Sheep with Lambs on Texel," by Richard Tepe, dating roughly from 1900 to 1930, has such a quiet, pastoral feel. What layers of symbolism might you find in an image like this? Curator: I see the ewe as the primordial mother, provider, and protector, naturally. She embodies a comforting presence, but also something of the harsh realities of nature. What stories do you imagine these specific sheep, on this island of Texel, might hold? Editor: Stories? Well, the photograph gives off an aura of simplicity, a sort of timeless quality to the relationship between mother and child... lambs in this case. Is there more to it historically? Curator: Certainly. Sheep and lambs are replete with iconographic weight, going back millennia across cultures. Lambs, of course, often signify innocence, sacrifice, and renewal. Sheep themselves, particularly in Western traditions, suggest pastoral ideals, but also the idea of the flock, community, and, dare I say, sometimes, a need for guidance. Editor: So, even what seems like a straightforward snapshot can resonate with deeper, more ancient meanings? Curator: Precisely. The apparent naturalism carries centuries of visual and symbolic language. Texel itself, as an island, adds another layer: insularity, perhaps self-sufficiency, and a connection to the sea, a boundary but also a source of sustenance. Look at how Tepe positions them against the background…the natural fence almost cages them in, could it be symbolic of isolation? Editor: That's fascinating, I would not have considered the idea of isolation, but given the location of Texel and how the animals are placed, it's now quite obvious. It adds so much depth to the work! Curator: Indeed. Images are never just what they seem on the surface.