Bosje weegbreezonnebloemen c. 1900 - 1930

Richard Tepe made this photogravure, Bosje weegbreezonnebloemen, sometime in his life between 1864 and 1952, a lifetime devoted to close observation. I love how the limited tonal range feels like a form of constraint, not unlike the kind you find in drawing, which pushes one to find new subtleties and nuances within a narrow field. The composition has a kind of directness, like a quick sketch. It’s not trying too hard, but look closer, and you can see the attention to detail in each petal’s curve, captured so delicately, like a record of a fleeting moment. The vase itself seems to disappear, becoming almost transparent, focusing our attention on the flowers. There's something so appealing in the ordinary. This image reminds me of Karl Blossfeldt’s botanical studies, who also found the extraordinary in the everyday. Art is about paying attention, isn’t it? Tepe seemed to know this, reminding us to look closely.