Flags on the Waldorf
Childe Hassam
This was not the first painting I had ever seen by Hassam; however, it was the first time I had ever seen a painting and, having never seen it or any of its reproductions, knew what artist it belonged to. You see, the first time I saw a painting by Hassam in person, the first thing that struck me about it was the strokes used to create it, and how much they reminded me of one of my very favorite artists, Vincent van Gogh.
Was I absolutely certain, upon seeing this piece, whose hand had created it? No, but I was confident in this instinct (and, as it turned out, correct).
In this same way, I can hear a guitar riff for the first time and be pretty sure it’s Jack White’s fingers producing the sound, or I can see a photograph and have little doubt that it was taken by my friend Joe.
There is just something about art that lets the artist show through. Each piece contains a part of its creator. True art expresses something. Art is human.
