Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-06-30
IN H ART PALACE,
A Look at Some of the Paint.
ings on Exhibition.
STORY OF A DOMESTIC TRAGEDY,

1tis the Greatest Picture To BE Seen at the
Worlds Fair and is Entitled "Alone IL
the World Tendency of Modern Paint.
ing Toward Dramatic Effect Exemplified
in the Display.
WORLDS FAIR, June %. [special.l -
In a former letter l spoke of the tendency
OF modern painting, as exem plified in the
exposition Art palace, toward dramatic
effect, and limited that I might some da,
write about the many fine examples there
OF to be found here. It is a topic which ]
think you will like. If I am able to do ne
more than to whet Your appetite for a per.
sonal study of the powerful painting,
which the artists of the world have huns
on these walls, I shall be content; anG
then, when you come to see them for your
self, and are stirred by them as thousands
are stirred every day, you will thank nj.
toz having called your attention to them.
by common consent, it SEEMS of both
populace and critics. the greatest picture
OF the exposition is "Alone in the World.'
1t is by Josef ~Israels, who is a Hollander,
and now an old man nearly ready to lay
down the brush and palette. But before
we talk OF his picture let us see what tri.
umphs he has won on the field of art be
fore producing this, his masterpiece an6
the most talked-about of all the painting.
OF the Columbian salon. AS long ago a.
1867 he won third medal at the Paris Elk
position Universal, and was decorated with
the Legion Of Honor. At the exposition
OF 1875 he took first medal, and was mad.
an officer of the Legion. Hehas won man,
other medals and honorable mentions.
His masterpiece is a quiet, unpretentioui
work. 1t shows the interior of a peasants
house, without details. The peasant ha.
come home from his toll and found hi.
wife in bed, dead. Her hands are claspeo
outside the coverlet. There is a look Of
peace on her face. The workman has moi
burst into tears he has not fallen upor
his knees by the side of the bed; he has
not grasped one of the cold hands anc
begged but a word from the lips which hi
knows will never speak again. Instead
be has seated himself on a bench. anG
turned his face from the bed. His cap an6
pipe have fallen to the floor. His feet, in
cased in wooden shoes, are far apart, and
Oh either knee is one of his big, work.
widened hands. The fingers are sprawled
in abjectness, as if there were not remain.
Ing in him energy or spirit enough t con.
tract their muscles. His body is bent
Slightly forward, and the eyes are staring
at-nothing. The man is stunned by the
blow. He is dazed y the one phase Of con.
s%ciousness left to him-that of loneliness.
1t is curious to watch the effect which
this picture has upon the people who pas.
it. Not one in a thousand of them knows
it is a famous picture, or that it's painteris
one of the great artists of the world. They
do not need to know these things. The
picture speaks for itself. 1t tells its simple
story of domestic tragedy in a way that
reaches all hearts. The people pause to
look at it. They aretouched. In my judg.
ment this is the true test fora picture that
is simple, of common, if not commonplace.
scenes. The critics may, or may not, be
satisfied with it. They may assail its
technique and condemn its coloring, but
no matter. If it arrests the attention OF