Boswachter en assistent met een hond die een konijn apporteert 1900 - 1930

Richard Tepe made this photograph, Boswachter en assistent met een hond die een konijn apporteert, location and date unknown. Isn't it interesting how a black and white photo can feel so textural? Take a look at the dog, the way he sits so patiently, the spots on his fur picked out in subtle gradations of grey. You can almost feel the slickness of his coat! And the rabbit, held aloft – a stark contrast to the soft fur of the dog, imagine how heavy it feels in the hand of the man. I love the way the leafless trees form a backdrop, their branches like tangled lines, a beautiful foil to the smooth planes of the men’s clothing. There’s a quiet drama here, a sense of stillness and action combined. It puts me in mind of the photographs of Gustave Le Gray, with their attention to detail and evocative atmosphere. It’s a reminder that photography, like painting, is about capturing a moment, an idea, but also about the process, the choices that shape the image.