At the recommendation of a friend I went searching for a book that I thought I had on my shelves somewhere but had not yet read. I found that book, a small miracle given my uncanny ability to look right at something I’m searching for and not see it. But in the process of searching, I also stumbled onto the book The Art Spirit by the painter Robert Henri, which I had started some time ago but never finished. In it I had flagged a quote from Henri on the intro page that described his thoughts about the genesis of art. I often wonder why I photograph. This quote sheds some light on that for me because I too occasionally have moments when I seem to see beyond the usual; at least beyond the usual for me. Here is what he said:
There are moments in our lives, there are moments in a day, when we seem to see beyond the usual. Such are the moments of our greatest happiness. Such are the moments of our greatest wisdom. If one could but recall his vision by some sort of sign. It was in this hope that the arts were invented. Sign-posts on the way to what may be. Sign-posts on the way to what ma be. Sign-posts toward greater knowledge. –Robert Henri
