Boomstudie 1845 - 1856

Hugh Owen's "Boomstudie" is a photograph, intimate in scale, which captures a stand of trees. The soft sepia tones and textured surfaces feel immediately tactile. Owen was working at a time when photography was still emerging as both an art form and a science. Consider the social climate of the 19th century, marked by industrialization and urbanization, and the burgeoning field of natural history. Within this context, Owen's choice to focus on trees is notable. These are not trees as timber, but as individual studies. Each tree appears gnarled and alive, bearing the marks of time and weather, like wrinkles on a face. "Boomstudie" invites a contemplation of our relationship with the natural world. Owen's work prompts us to reflect on our place within a broader ecological narrative. The photograph echoes the Victorian fascination with nature, yet it also offers a quiet, personal reflection on the enduring presence of the trees.