Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1893-06-22

- 49,
Worlds Fair and ia Entitled alone in
tho World "-Tendeney Of Modern Paint
ing Toward Dramatic Eject Exsznplilaed
IN the Display.
WORLDS FAIR, June o. - ISpeciall :
In q former letter I spoke Of the tendency
OF modern painting, as exem plifed in the
exposition Art palace. toward dramatic
effect, and limited that might some day
write about the many fine examples there
OF 10 be found here 1t Is a topic which /
think you will like. IL I am able to do no
more than to whet your appetite for a per-
sonal study Of the powerful paintings
which the artists Of the world have hung
On these walls, I shall be content; and
then, when you come to see them for your
self, and are stirred by them as thousands
are stirred every day, you viii thank me
for having called your attention to them.
BY common consent, it seems, of both
populace and critics, the greatest picture
at the expositoni Is Alone in the World
II i by josef Israels. who Is q 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 and
the most talked-about Of all the paintings
OF the Columbian salon. As long ago as
1857 he won third medal at the Paris Elk
position Universal, and was decorated with
the Legion of Honor. At the exposition
Of 1878 he took first medal, and was made
an officer of the Legion He has won many
other medals and honorable mentions.
His masterpiece is quiet, unpretentious
work. Ii shows the interior of a peasants
house, without details. The peasant has
come home from his toll and found his
wife in bed, dead. Her hands are clasped
outside the coyerlet. There is q look of
peace on herface. The workman has not
burst into tears he has not fallen upon
his knees by the side of the bed he has
not grasped ore CT the cold hands and
begged but q word from the lips which ne
knows viii never speak again. Instead,
he has seated himself on a bench, and
turned his face from the bed. His cap and
pipe have fallen 10 the floor. His feet, i'm
cased in wooden shoes, are far apart, and
on either knee is one Of his big. work
widFned hands. The fingers are sprawled
in abjectness, as If there were not remain
ing in him energy or spirit enough to 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 by thee phase of con-
seriousness left to him-that of loneliness.
II is curious to watch the effect which
this picture has upon the people who pass
1t. Not one in a thousand OF them knows
IL IL a famous picture, or that its painteris
one of the great artists of the world. They
do not need to know these things. The
picture speaks for itself II tells its simple
story of a domestic tragedy in a way that
reaches ali hearts. The people pause to
look at it. They are touched. 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 tn attention oi