New-York tribune., 1885-02-23
TIE ETCHING CLUE EXHIBITION.


Asrccards popular favor the etchings suffer,
no doubt from their proximity TO the more aggressive
water colors |: has been suggested that the Etching
Club should hold independent exhibitions but II the pup
fishers ana dealers work were eliminated from tie
present collection the result would hardly justify
separate exhibition The value OF this annual display as
a representative showing would be enhanced II 1t were
limited to American work aud II 1t were univcrs'y
regarded by echeis not matter Of convenience
hut their opportunity for bringing forward tHeN
very best achievements. primary requirement H'
other exhibitions that painting shall be admitted
which has been publicly shown before In th' cy ARE
our etchers and feeble that the same rule cannot
be applied cichnSs An organization with the mem
uership AMI prestige OF the Ncw-York Etching CLUB
should be able year at least 10 show collection
OF fresh original work The club Is not Just u Itself
when pads ont IT. exhibitions with prints which are an
old sory every who visits the stores OF dealers
and booksellers even looks into the windows No one
the merit and interest o; many 7uch etchins III
this collection There may be il!-naturcd enough
to make comparisons between Chauyc ana Gravcsaude
and local etchcrs the disadvantage Of the latter
exhibition Of the NowIOrk Etching Club should
be composed Of American ctchAss. 1t Is not tie
place for work whether foreign American, which has
been shown 20: months in half dozen public p.at's
within rif.-snot Of the Academy.
With tue exception Of Mr. ~,cpAcn Parrish the usual
contributors are reprcsen,cl in the present collection
Extremes meet in this exhibition. Here are Mt j. NJ
Faconers cugrayerke rendering, OF historic bUdHgs
the piaes re drawn and crossbachcd with multiple
ity Of lines all exposed apparently for tho same length
timc since they print nearly monotone. There arc
no strong linear effects the only aim OF the etcher
has been Imitation by elaboration vague and weak IN
itself, while suspect lm TO have beeA very much
afraid OF his Dorddnt Take Mr.. PcnncIs otchiAgs as
examples Of "a method Numerically opposed. Mr.
Pencil nothing for imitation. In his etching OF
structures he leaves the suggestion Of form largely 20
tLe'papcr with strong but skeichy lines ~ frame Work
OF yivacou- fact upon wa;ch the Imagination may build.
Mr. Penncs Tla,es bitten frccyand boldly, for he
delights IN sharp contrasts. ~ ia 30 l7O although his
shadows are sometimes oyer-emphatc. His Use ~ ID"
line IL Expressive except Ia occasional careless figure
work aud in hi, rendering Of water. Here he cpuid
study NJ. Grayesaudc with advantage. MI PcnneH
stands almost alone among oar echcr III hN cihst OF
subjects and IN his style OF treating them and there are
-gas that his work has proved strong enough &" lnhh
ence Others Mr. Bachcr, FOX example. A. regards the
Influences which Sir. Fenne.4 himself has felt hi-
iu-praon ha- been drawn from Inlluue and Hamerton
according his account despite reiterated compar
isons with Whistler. II s. clear That Mr. f"inc!l
works after fashion Of bi- and liz work should be
Judged according the purpose of 10 artist even by
those who may prefer pure Initiation such careful
attention to details Is shown Ia Mr. aics" Corner of
seville" 80. 80. a credifaJ!c example Of certain
school Offering interesting contrast 10 No l19 by Mr
/ Pencil The latter works from nature as rule,
practice making too many demands upon tie technical
! nl(gSs
experience allow his adoption Of casron method
Of procedure 1t easy detect asional flaws IN
drawing occasional o. lines without due Significance.
iu. on the whole tilnk Mr.. Pencils half dozen
echngs In this collect will strike observers a. alert
and vigorous often hncy delicate in rendering.
often genuinely suggestive and never wholly unnterest
ing Now Mr.. Bacher who often suggests Mr.. renneli,
f. not always Interesting; in fact with al his show Of
ceverness he is sometimes tresome His etchrgs need
accents and variety in the biting to indicate values
and perspective. They need nrmer, more decided
touch and where figures made prominent as
in the venetian Well" 3, It IS not too
that subst ance and modelling shOnd be represented
Indicted in the drawing Instead the figures are vaguc
spectres I'm Gondolier No 4, the extraordinary
curves Of the water show either carelcssness or ignO-
rance Mr.. Bacher inclined 10 interpret nature
| suggcstiycly with insufficient preparation. Before he
can produce freely executed ylyaciOus ctchinys with
general truths Oyernastcrng details, IL r. necessary FOR
him meet elementary requirements, study more fully
the problems offered by the taniazng yet fascinating
medium which he has chosen and 10 comprehend lis
range and resources. Then, are convinced. Mr.
Bachers work will possess an accuracy richness and
variety which regret TO miss at prcsent But Mr..
Bacler's cchngs show some Imaginative power ana
they technically perfect by the eide of such nior
tunate productions No. 1873 by Mr.. H. II. Miller. II
no! gs 70 Ty ae mrs 'Sf S6ws fa1e sIogG feel @
alive but only strangely supported dnnm!ee. curious
| lima Gas the atm barren and crude cl,arncnrisc.
of the average boarding school drawing. Mr Alexander
| sclimg mases n irst appearance this year with sA
echings Of landscapes and river scenery which show
promise and pictorial tact. No 100 indicates
considerable reliance upon me printer Miss l.. /.
| Perce H. of bcyy of Philadelphia who
have contributed not tle 10 tho interest OF The cyhl
biilOn. Miss Pcces work Is UdiI itudl ana vigorous
! one Of her ctclings. No. l71. las been carces,ly
printed There lees TO be ndcd in he
Work of Emily Moran, blanche Daye, Llcanor Matlaek
and Katharine Levin among The younger exhibitors.
No Etching club cOlleC0n would be complete
without something from Mr. krusoInan Van Eltcn,
who often associated with Mr. Parrish now
that we are old enough to speak OF veteran echnrs
Mr. Van Lltcns eight ctchiDgs well illustrate hs careful
study OF nature aud his thOnghtfu and sober hammer
No would call this work brilliant hut such uDl.t Is
the attentive treatment OF foliage tell he pain. rhng
scene IA The Valley Road ~ moro satisfying than u
dashing bur superficial showincss. Mr hitOls shore
scenes aud Mr. IenT, FarTers twilight landscapes Will
he found 20 answer the expectations oi those familiar
OF 1850 is Mr. James ID. smilles only contribution.
there is nothing by Mcssrs. Chase ard GaOrd. OF Mr.
&. A. Platt's excellent etchingr, Ma. Isl, brittany
Houses" and 1873 the most favorable Examples.
Mr. Samuel Colinan still ihdustriOnsly CLEANS behind
Jacquomat attempting 10 render substance ana texture
IN No. 80. q cnriously arranged Japanese inro and
meeting with degree OF success III his TASK We do
not recall better showing by Mr.. Monks ts he makes
ths year one or two Of his landscapes win sheep are
almost idyc and the sentiment Ii enhanced ny hlS IN
proved technique We cili recognize good workmanship
| I'm Tho Patriarch" despite the ghOstly eDyr0nTcnt
and we presume tho etching and that OF Jersey COW
across the gallery would Oc appreciated by any dealer IN
live stock. The two large reproductive etchiDgr D.! mr.
Hamilton convey impression OF strength and assIir,
aIce In OF the needle. In Bet"eei Two flror
the etoher has sncreedod furly with the faces nu ms
infinite pansaking here and In the picture VIII Ihey
Consent given 10 oac the character oi ai eheaI
oyerrdes OF the settle the seat u which hp
that II wculd be nm fnpossioc