Vaught Corsair Shot From A Catapult c. 1930

Wayne L. Davis made this etching, "Vaught Corsair Shot From A Catapult," and it feels like he’s captured more than just an image. I can almost hear the roar and feel the shudder of the catapult, sending that biplane into the vast expanse. I imagine Davis, watching, feeling the energy of the scene, maybe even the anxiety of the moment. The sky is ambiguous, looming, like a thought you can’t quite grasp. There's a real sense of atmosphere. The figures on deck are like ghosts, watching the event. You know, artists are often inspired by historical events, but it’s the emotional response that makes the work resonate. Davis has really caught that liminal moment between the known and the unknown. It reminds me of some of Gerhard Richter's blurred images, where the focus is less on the thing itself and more on the experience of seeing it. It's that fleeting impression that lingers, inviting us to contemplate the bigger picture.