Leaves, chestnuts, tree trunks, and mushrooms are common things one finds in the forest. It is most likely that during a walk, one may not notice these objects at all, as they are just a natural part of the forest at this time of year.
In a hectic life with busy schedules it can be challenging to stop and observe the small joys that present themselves to us every day. This phenomenon, where we are so consumed by our daily routines and worries that we lose the ability to see the special in the seemingly ordinary, can be referred to as everyday blindness.
Everyday blindness is not just a result of distraction; it is also a byproduct of human adaptability. We are programmed to adapt to our surroundings and situations, which can lead to us taking our environment for granted. When we pass by the same beautiful park on our way to work every day or routinely drink our morning coffee without giving it much thought, the hidden beauty in these moments can easily be overlooked.
The concept of everyday blindness can also be related to the psychological term habituation, which describes the way our attention decreases towards stimuli we regularly experience. For instance, a person who moves into a house close to a railway may initially find the noise from the train disturbing. However, over time, the sound becomes part of the background noise, and the resident ceases to notice it. Similarly, we can become habituated to the beauty in our own lives, leading us to undervalue or ignore it.
Throughout time, artists have been known for their ability to see the world from a unique perspective and find beauty where others might not see it. Historically, many artists have found ample inspiration in the ordinary and everyday life, creating works that highlight the extraordinary in the ordinary. The Dutch post-impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh is a brilliant example of this. Van Gogh often depicted simple subjects with a depth and intensity that made them appear truly special. One of his most famous works, “Sunflowers,” is a series of paintings that depict a simple bouquet of sunflowers. He transforms this common subject into something almost magical through his use of color and shape. Van Gogh’s ability to find beauty in the simple and mundane made him a master at revealing the spectacular in the seemingly ordinary.
Another artist who explored ordinary life is the American documentary photographer Dorothea Lange. During the Great Depression, Lange photographed everyday people and their surroundings with empathy and compassion. Her iconic photograph “Migrant Mother” from 1936 shows a poor farm woman surrounded by her children. Despite the simplicity of the image, it manages to convey a strong sense of desperation, strength, and hope. Lange’s ability to find depth in the ordinary enabled her to create works that are both timeless and deeply moving.
Throughout history, Van Gogh, Lange and many other artists have shown that the ordinary and everyday are not only worthy of being depicted, but also contain a hidden beauty that can bring artworks to life in ways that more grandiose subjects perhaps cannot. Their work serves as a reminder that pausing and taking a closer look at the world around us can reveal depths and nuances that we might otherwise have overlooked.
