The Little Review, January-February 1916 (Vol. 2, No. 10)Various
General
The Little Review, January-February 1916 (Vol. 2, No. 10)
Various
Literature, Modern -- 20th century -- Periodicals
In this exhibit the only thrills or “artiste emotions”—such as one
demands of art—were very minor notes and immediately they were
felt—thump! (Register amazement and then anger.) You come across
something good: its neighbors and surroundings deaden its appeal. Thus,
Massonovich’s _Moon-Dark_—poet’s magic! But alas! it is the only
landscape in the exhibit. Next to it is Oliver D. Grover’s Italian
platitude, near it a Redfield—“blast” his “school” of landscapes,
please, someone! Peyraud, Stacey, Butler—oh, what emptiness! The Inness
Room cuts into the exhibit separating two rooms from the rest of the
galleries. Passing through it one is reminded of the Inness
tradition—how it has been ignored! Or at least how his spirit has been
ignored. Monet, Renoir, Manet, and some other modern French are hanging
elsewhere in the Institute; and then there is Whistler; and again recall
Inness; Massonovich, on you rests the perpetuation, not of “American
Landscape” but of that spirit we shall always be searching for in
landscapes, if landscapes we must have. One parting remark about
landscapes. Hayley Lever comes in for some praise and much scolding. He
has a good color sense, but strength and virility in composition seem to
be lacking. Recall what Jerome Blum has done and you will understand why
this half-way person ought to be jolted.
And the portraits. One of Katherine Dudley’s
decorative-German-poster-“Every Week” cover-design-women, is now the
property of the “Friends”—“American Art as it was in the early part of
the twentieth century”. Yes, indeed, to represent it clearly to
posterity you must include at least one of the numerous society
dilettantes. However, Gordon Stevenson, Blows, Henri, and Davey as
portrait painters are worth watching.
And the rest of the show? Most of the exhibitors have been represented
for years. Their pictures are all so familiar. Many of the paintings
have appeared year after year. Birge Harrison has a rather atmospheric
beach scene; Beal, Albright, Dougherty, Hassam, Sargent, Mary Cassatt,
Symons, Ballin, Weir, Schofield. All are familiar and recognised in the
Market Place. These people are standing still. I imagine they are old:
grey without magnificence. And being haunted by the truth of that
lingering statement that there is no such thing as an old _artist_—why,
dare we say that they are _not_ artists?
Sculptor? There is none.
American Art?—To the Annual Exhibit, Ladies and Gentlemen, for a
definite demonstration!
“The Critic.”
Photography
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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