Vier mussen eten brood op de rand van een balkon 1900 - 1930

Richard Tepe, a Dutch photographer who lived from 1864 to 1952, captured "Vier mussen eten brood op de rand van een balkon" (Four Sparrows Eating Bread on the Edge of a Balcony) using a photographic process that was pioneering for its time. The photograph reflects Tepe’s interest in capturing everyday life with a touch of intimacy. The sparrows, perched on what appears to be a simple balcony railing, are caught in a moment of sustenance, a scene that speaks to themes of survival, community, and the overlooked beauty of the mundane. There is something poignant about the way these small creatures, often disregarded, are given a stage. They are presented as individuals with needs. The act of eating, of sharing, is a universal one and invites us to reflect on our own place within the larger ecosystem. It’s as if Tepe is suggesting a leveling of hierarchies. Through this quiet, unassuming image, Tepe encourages us to look more closely at the small lives around us. He makes us think about the shared moments of survival that connect us all.