Landschap met sneeuw en ijs bij landgoed Meijenbeek bij Voorst (landschappen) 1900 - 1930

Richard Tepe made this photograph of a snowy landscape near Voorst, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. The tones are subdued, almost monochromatic, which makes the scene feel quiet and still. The soft greys remind me of charcoal drawings. You know, artmaking is often about decisions, about choosing what to show and what to leave out. Looking closely, you can see how Tepe played with light and shadow to create depth. The cracks in the ice, the bare trees in the distance – they all have this delicate, almost ghostly quality. It's as if he's inviting us to step into this frozen world and wander around. I am reminded of Gustave Le Gray who was also working with photography at this time. Tepe wasn’t trying to capture a perfect picture, but rather, to make something that feels more like a feeling. Art, at its best, embraces ambiguity and invites us to bring our own stories to the table.