"Willkommen to California and the Valley of the Yosemite! I am Hermann Herzog. You must be the young artist. I am glad you have come! You could not have chosen a more beautiful land to paint!

"Please, have a seat . . . perhaps back here, away from the raging waterfall.

"Ja, it is always a challenge to work out in the elements, is it not? But I will do whatever is necessary—hike, ride or climb—to work in plein air! Direct observation of nature is very important! I do look forward to returning to my studio in Philadelphia where I can paint in comfort!

"But, make no mistake, it is essential to see these wonders with your own eyes. You must uses your senses to capture a scene at the height of its magnificence!"

What do you like to paint, Mr. Herzog?

Photo: Library of Congress