Gezicht op een kweekerij en bos in Bergen c. 1900 - 1930

Richard Tepe made this photograph, "Gezicht op een kweekerij en bos in Bergen," in the late 19th or early 20th century, using a camera to capture a serene landscape. The tones are muted; greys and browns are layered to create a calming, almost melancholic atmosphere, which reminds me of tonalist paintings. The photograph emphasizes texture and form. Look at the bridge; the crisscrossing pattern of the wood creates a tactile sensation, almost as if you could reach out and feel the roughness of the timber. The trees are skeletal, their branches reaching out like delicate, dark lines against the pale sky. The composition leads your eye along the line of trees, guiding you deeper into the image, towards an unknown destination. There’s something about the sparseness of this image that reminds me of the work of Agnes Martin, who was similarly preoccupied with space, line and tranquility. This piece feels like a quiet meditation on nature. It invites us to slow down and contemplate the subtle beauty of the natural world.