The London Mercury, Vol. I, Nos. 1-6, November 1919 to April 1920Various
General
The London Mercury, Vol. I, Nos. 1-6, November 1919 to April 1920
Various
English literature -- Periodicals; London (England) -- Periodicals
ARTISTIC PUBLICATIONS
Art and Letters
With the autumn number of _Art and Letters_ the periodical completes
its fourth publication since the beginning of the new series. _Art and
Letters_ was first published in July, 1917, under the editorship of
Frank Rutter, Harold Gilman, and Charles Ginner, and was devoted to the
reproduction of the graphic arts and the publication of short essays,
stories, poems, and reviews. After the first four numbers the magazine
came under the management of Mr. Frank Rutter and Mr. Osbert Sitwell,
who changed the cover from a set design to one of a varied pattern each
quarter.
_Art and Letters_ has continued to supply a certain demand as an
artistic quarterly, and indeed, with the exception of _Colour_, it
seems to be the only periodical which reproduces the works of younger
contemporary artists. The first numbers contained some excellent
drawings by Walter Sickert, Harold Gilman, and Charles Ginner, with
woodcuts by Lucien Pissaro; later, work by Paul Nash, MacKnight
Kauffer, and Therèse Lessore formed a pleasing contribution. With the
inception of the new series in 1918, the paper was given fresh impetus
and still maintains its high level. A criticism which applies to many
other like publications may be also applied to _Art and Letters_: it is
too precious. There is need of a wider scope and more general appeal to
the public.
The chief item of artistic interest in Volume 2, No. 4, of _Art and
Letters_, which has just appeared, is the drawing by Modigliani, who
was one of the most promising exhibitors at the recent exhibition of
Continental Artists held at the Mansard Gallery, and referred to above.
This is really a beautiful drawing, delicate and sensitive; the artist,
while relying chiefly on the rhythmic value of his line, has introduced
ever so slightly into the face the literary interest, so to speak,
of a subtle expression which is the quintessence of placid kindness.
There are also excellent drawings by the late Gaudier Brzeska and
Wyndham Lewis, and a wood-cut by Paul Nash which, at the risk of being
censored for partiality, I venture to think is of interest in another
branch of his art. The drawing by Miss Anne Estelle Rice is competent
and decorative. A new periodical entitled _The Owl_ was hatched in the
early summer, in which the excellence of the literary contributions
greatly outweighed the value of the artistic reproductions. I hope in
the future that the art editor will range a little wider in his choice
of drawings.
The Poetry Bookshop
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