New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-24
LANDSCAPES BY ". 4. COFFIN.

- tho seasons series OF one-man exhibitions Is
~. another at the Avery gallery one OF the paint
- nv Mr. W. A. Coffin. This artist Is one OF
49,. who have shared in the expansion OF recent
..cape art in the closer investigation OF open air
..1,,,ons and have vet resisted the tendency toward
Is,rary experiments. lie paints Impressions az
..,lnrshed from the cumulative report OF natures
ro,k but he is not an imprcssionist In the common
....nsuon of the word. II he has trod In the
.~.cr Of any foreign master 1t Inns been in that OF
80, II Is TO that Frenchman that the mind re-
-. unon the impulse to find some familiar precedent
~. .hs l,cid skies in some OF Mr.. Cofin's pictures
.na TO- certain passages IN his brushwork But tile
,-nu,se is only momentary. In The essentlss Oh MS
-, Mr. Coffin Is his own inspiration. We use 'he
~. word however In restricted sense because 'or
,r,,aion OF the higher sort OF the sort frauglt with
rs,erious and poetic suggestion. these landscapes
-. m, conspicuous. Their subjective interest rises
s', .o,d,m into the region OF sprltualized beauty
Thor. "a one phase OF the days evolution that Mr.
c.m, renders with singular aptitude. At that mo-
nan, when the thin wells Of dusk have been thrown
.r., the landscape and the sky throbs Win eXquis'e!
A.. .,reaks Of rose against broad surface OF paier
r.,,ow he can catch the elusive note. lie mas uo"e
en- IN No. o Evening" and he has expressed kindred
.s.o,s IN Nos. ol and -. each Of which Is study
a, n,oonhse Again there IS hint OF poetry IN NO.
"A Starlight Night" and the impalpable In atmos-
s 4. na,nted very truthfullv and deicately In NO.
. aworninp sunshine" and No H. "A Rainy Day.,
", the latter With perhaps more success ana 10 more
.h.minp purpose than anywhere else save IN the
A,st landscape mentioned above. In the remaining
..o,e ar 60 OF pictures the value OF ME- Cohns worK
an,v ,ies apar from considerations cf sens''lveness
"a ,ndearabe landscape qualities. In them his plane
Z, that NJ the clears sighted and Intelligent observer
b,se presentations OF nature are In the hrst place
..o,rate and owe their distinction TO refinement IN
.o,o, and free authoritative method. II Is unusual
N ana An artist painting with Mr. Coiiin's breadth
and AZ the same time carrying his work 10 suoh u
smroth finish synthesis could not 90 further THIS
dido Of extreme mpres sioDism indeed in some places
:, the trees Of No %. A Hay Day In Autumn
and IN Nos 90 and Is. it has resulted In textures
THAT are hardly integibf. But in general the lana-
scape that Is Characteristic Of Mr. Coffin Is compact
clean cut and estrely comprehensive thing Inc
veracity Of a picture like No. l6 "a sun breeze
IN which the effect Of wet sand Just above The breakers
,s shown testihos 10 the norrowest analysis CT a
natural fact and the skill III transferring u
10 canvas There Is veraclty OF equal force, Win
greater charm OF color added, in No. 23 the ROAR
Through the Woods" wherein the thick green lcaias
ia beautifully interspersed with parlicies VI Huhs
light. Mr.. Colin may not be imaginative ~ uoc S
not appear to us that he is. but he has mnch eopu
taste and some feeling and his work gives pleasure
The present exhibition Is the first. We beieNe' lhat
II CONTAINS moonlight and daylight landscapes. ana
several water yews-and II IL sure TO be appreciato
BY whoever recognizes STRAIGHTFORWARD, original WORK.
II will last until February 4.