The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-22
NCOHERENT ART.


"
Tendencies.
Paris Letter in Boston journal.
1t would be difficult to imagine anything more
wildly comical than the Exhibition of the In
coherent Artists" which this year exceeds in
bodness and comicality all its predecessors
The object Of the promoters of this exhibition IS
primarily profit, of cours; but they also intend
ceverly to satirize the art tendencies of the
time. The ARTISTS" who contribute do not con-
tent themselves with colors; they employ real
wood, real cloth, real hair with which to depict
the subject chosen by them. The effect is
sometimes quite side -splitting and, as we are
in Gaul, we are not expected to be surprised
if the bounds of dccency are oc-
which would startle even Whistler is
the Tomato Harvest on the Borders of the Red
Sea; Apopectic Cardinals Engaged in Harvest
ing the Fruit" Here red prevails, as may be
imagined and the artist has made his back
ground of a square of blood-red cloth. One of
the Incoherents has depicted Saint Denis shay
ing his own freshly decapitated head. The
Fifth Act of Camille" shows US a miniature
bedstead, on the pillow of which lies terra
Gotta head-a most fantastic caricature of Sara
| Bernhardts lively and nervous countenance.
| The bed room furniture IS complete, so complete
that it makes the English visitors say "Shock-
ingw Now and then there is touch of pathos
in the work of these 'lnconerents, as in a small
and we'll executed sketch which shows two men
who are taking a coffin down a narrow stairway,
suddenly coming against two other men who are
bringing up piano, This IN striking, put not
true to life. The oldest thing about apartment
houses in Paris is that never meets his
neighbors on the stairs, never happens to en-
counter their funerals, or to hear their quarrels,
or to know of their illnesses. One reason why
the Parisians object TO the general introduction
| of elevators in apartment houses is found in
their fear that they might be subjected to occa-
sional meetings, which they now avoid. | was
one evening going to dinner party, and, as it
was raining as l left the house in which reside,
/ asked the concierge to call me a cab. When
| the cab came the concierge heard me give the
| driver the number of the street to which l was
| going. '"Tiens!" he said IN. So-and So, men
tioning the name of well-known Paris man of
| letters asked me to call cab Just as you have,
| and gave exactly the same address. What a
coincidence" IN. So and-So?" queried, docs
he live in our house" GAY, and has-for these
six years-lived here" / had often met this
gentleman at social gatherings and conversed
with him. but never until that evening had | dis
covered that our homes were beneath the same
! roof.
| To return to the 'Incoherents.' A daring con-
| tributor has sent what he calls the de Lesseps
| family" caricature on the pretty portraits of
| that interesting nichee denfants which was
shown at this years Salon. The 'Incoherent'
artist has placed the nine children with their
backs to the light. and has given them all real
| hair. The effect is highly amusing. There are
good many vulgar subjects, and these have
| been so mereilessy criticised by the press that
the offenders will probably be more circumspect
at the next exhibition,