Camera Work: A Photographic Quarterly (1908 (Heft 21))

whether the case of your friend was really as impossible as the world would
judge it. The world, of course, translates everything into terms of barter. To
have something salable, and not to sell it, unless you are waiting for a rise in
values, is foolishness. If the artist chooses to rank himself alongside of
other makers of salable commodities, he has right and common sense on his
side. A tradesman's vocation is respectable and may be honest; but, given
that they are respectable and honest and successful, one tradesman can not
reasonably look down upon another one. Yes,” continued Johnson, waving
his pipe in the air and growing quite enthusiastic, “ I can imagine a time in
some far-off millennium, when art will be sufficient for the artist. Some
arrangement, of course, will have to be made for the requirements of his
body, but when it comes to the creations of his spirit, the act of creation will
be complete in itself; it will be a final expression of himself, needing no
supplementary proceedings of fetching so much money. Then, the artist
will be truly free, working in the freedom of his own spirit.”
“And till then ? ” I asked.
“Until then,” said Johnson, <CI hope every rotten picture you paint,
will be accepted by the public and paid for, as a masterpiece.”
Charles H. Caffin.

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