I do like this photo. What ever is up on those steps doesn't matter to me. It has created as much chatter and discussion as any photo in my grandfather's collection. After all what is art if it doesn't create some emotion in us all.

Ok, here's my take on this, after spending many days studying my grandfather's work and knowing the old man when I was a boy. He was an artist with one heck of a sense of humor, even in his 90's still living on the farm he could still chase me, run me up a tree with a broom for some dumb trick a 6 year old with out a father would do. He would stand below the pear tree and half hearted poke me, laughing with each stroke of the broom. I climbed higher and we both ended up laughing at each other.

I have seen a similar picture to this one taken at the same school. All the girls are sitting looking straight ahead. But, this one? He set it up. Had the girls put on the dog for him. No? Maybe they didn't know he was about to snap the picture. We will never know, each of us will have our own take on this excellent photo.

This photo is available in a ready for frame print from the original master scan sized 12" tall x16" wide. You may view the framed version of this print in the "Show" section of this website.