Argthtjtr

What is the proper interpretation of "catch a distant trumpet of an entirely new point of view"? (I only know that an American artist wrote this and that she was in England at the time.)

January 19: I fly on the night of January 23rd. I know that as my foot crosses the threshold of the airplane, my spirit will lift. In my guidebook I have scouted out the topography of Paris so that when I arrive I can align myself north, south, east, west. And I continue to review my French.

French money is engraved with the portraits of artists: Delacroix, de La Tour, Montesquieu, Debussy; I am astounded, and catch a distant trumpet of an entirely new point of view. I wonder if, by way of similar extraordinary facts that I cannot predict, I may feel more at home in Europe than on my deeply loved stretches of land in the United States. Something stubborn in me hopes not, and in recognizing that part of me I suddenly know why I never sought out Europe when, for years of my life, I had ample opportunity: I am afraid of its wisdoms, leery of challenge to the little developments of my own that I have struggled for and the independence of which I cherish, perhaps inordinately.

I interpret "a distant trumpet" to mean that the author realizes that the French seem to value artistic contributions above political contributions, since their money portrays artists and not politicians, as does US currency.

The metaphor of a distant trumpet (in my opinion) is meant to convey that it is not clear exactly what the French think of artists, similar to that you might have trouble making out what song a distant trumpeter is playing.

I think it also conveys a sense of attraction, that the author is drawn to, and would like to learn more about a philosophy that values artistic contributions, as you might walk toward a distant trumpet to hear the song more clearly.

As A gal named Desire mentioned below, it could also indicate an announcement of something, maybe a new chapter in the author's life, or her integration into a community with values that are so much different than those she experienced in the US.

I do agree with some of the comments and answers posted before. However, in general literature, the call of a trumpet in the distance is to herald the arrival of something. In this figuration, I would then think that what is being heralded, as the author describes, is the new point of view.

The idea that the trumpet is distant is the metaphor that could otherwise be explained with a different metaphor, such as a seed beginning to sprout. The author can sense the change in an internal point of view. It isn't finalized, but at that point it's a bit of a discovery moment: In France, the arts are of the highest regard over politics, to the extent of the nation's greatest contributors to the art are present in money. As the author is an artist as well, this a point of resonance.

Therefore, the distant trumpet is the metaphoric inaudible call to action for the arrival of this point of view, that the author experiences and resonates with, giving the author the sense of belonging that is unexpected but also more aligned with personal beliefs.

Trumpets are used to announce that something is beginning. A distant trumpet is one whose sound is faint when it reaches you. If she moves in the direction of the trumpet she will experience what it has announced: she will soon experience something novel to her, a culture that celebrates its artists to the extent that their likenesses are put on money. This new experience is on the horizon for her.

... and catch a distant trumpet (in her mind as an announcement) of an entirely new point of view ...

The figurative use of a trumpet is not heard but sensed in the mind:

The World Book Dictionary

to announce as if by sound of trumpet