Vier kuikens c. 1900 - 1940

Richard Tepe captured these four chicks sometime in his lifetime with a camera. The image is small, like a memory, or a secret. These chicks are huddled together, maybe just hatched, maybe a bit scared? It is hard to tell. The texture is soft, the contrasts are stark, and it makes me feel something about newness. I can imagine Tepe, sneaking around the yard, trying to capture the exact moment when these chicks were at their fluffiest, most vulnerable. Did he feel like he was intruding? Did he feel a sense of connection with nature? There is also a lot of darkness, and you might not notice the chicks at first glance. It is as if they’re being revealed, gradually, as your eyes adjust. Artists have always looked to nature for inspiration, and here, Tepe has created a piece of intimacy, a gentle reflection on the beginnings of life. It's like a whisper, inviting you to lean in, to really see.