Henry Wessel: Traffic

In the early 1980s, photographer Henry Wessel (born 1942) frequently commuted from Richmond, California, to San Francisco in the early morning rush hour, working for the sake of a steady paycheck. Surrounded by persons like himself?fellow commuters driving along his route?the daily drill seemed daunting and wearisome. But with resignation came receptivity. The monotonous movement of stop-and-go vehicles allowed Wessel a quick peek into the other cars, and for a brief moment?illuminated by the bright morning sunlight?he witnessed a wealth of human expression, from determination and impatience to blank-look boredom. Thus it was that he began to photograph his fellow commuters as they made their way through the traffic. Though the circumstances allowed for only a glance, it was enough for Wessel. Henry Wessel: Traffic is a unique portrait of 1980s California and Californians, and testimony to the unexpected revelations that may be found in the most routine circumstances.