The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-23
ART SENSE.
There is a common tie
That makes mankind akin.

That makes mankind AKIN.
Something in the human mind sits in
judgment and passes decree works OF
art. This something we call art sense. or
taste. Taste, in the broad sense. is the
prevailing character of manners, or rather
the ground OF manners 1t has its begin
ming in mind. Art originates in an idea
a mental conception. The mind must get
into art first, hence the basis of judgment
in art must rest in mentality. We come at
once to this point TO trace the origin of
taste. Whoever has mind will think, will
have Judgment. Taste is an exercise of
judgment, and implies intelligence. expert
ence 1t will readily be observed. there
fore. that taste is subject to education and
development. 1t may be depraved and dis
torted- The larger the experience the more
advanced the taste, the broader the view.
the nicer the discriminating power of the
mind. the clearer the perception of the eter-
nal fitness of things. Taste in art will be
found to lie along the lines of thought culti-
waited; therefore, there be no standards
OF judgment; neither Is ii desirable. Each
is left to the exercise of his own judy
ment. R. w. Emerson has tersely said that
nothing is more undesirable than that all
men should be of the same opinion" Water
seeks its level; so does mind. The gross
and sensual mind lays hold of and feeds
on the filthy in art. Alas' too much OF
this sort is permitted to exist. and may
day, perverting the imagination and soil
ing the minds of the young. This is "
are SO varied that it Is impossible to draw
severe empirical lines, but rather
make here a plea for indi.
science seeks in art that which permits
only those nice and subtle distinctions which
his acute and discerning mind leads him
to observe. The legal mind concentrates
tribunals and portraits of statesmen and
sees. The art that pleases and engages
md jfnrn faxrr he fxx.<~ ia,
spirits reaching from the height of heaven
to the depth of the human soul. The Amer
lean Indian and the barbaric races delight
in bright coloring, but thought. civiliza-
ton and morality advance, the color tone
becomes IS more ,ass subdued hard lines give
are modelled and moulded In symetrical
types, coarseness and gross manners and
and easy steps up the incline of human
progress and development. Environment does
not always establish taste unless that en-
vironment be wilful. History points to many
examples of those who have never risen
from from tn their surrounding or rather have
cumstances, from obscurity and poverty to
take. rank side by side and stand shoulder
earth, teaching blessed lesson to the
young and oppressed of the great possibiii-
boy may outstrip the golden chariot of the
hereditary SON of wealth: Envying not the
r rafber proud see and Of earth let him
taste that he may enjoy the
more the sweets of life while
takes. but is full Of faith and profits By
them in learning to avoid them: having a
high purpose, he speeds on to newer and
plane and sphere of life succeeds another
in height; he eliminates the erroneous and
frivolous laying hold of truth and beauty
with a strong hand, and at last he stands
forth living monument to bless mankind
sonnier. Michael Angelo. Barge, ' Lincoln i
Franklin, were such. They made their own
taste. Mankind will not let their memory
die. Contrast these with the dude who
glasses. smokes the cigarette. twirls a
cane and writes doggerel poetry-his sun
sets with his life: his taste is made with
The critics have made spasmodic and
furious attempts to establish public stand
ards of taste they have written artists up
and written them down, counting it a.
supernal joy to thus masquerade before
the public in art. but they are powerless
to help or hinder men. Cliques and schools
with preconceived notions have drawn
hypercritical lines, tried to measure those
outside their own little circle with the
deficient standards of their own narrow
mindedness and prejudice. Art is the uni
versal language Of no age, nationality or
CLINE. Unhampered by dialects or meta
once to the intelligence and understanding
of mankind. So that after all, sentient
enlightened public sentiment will be ac-
ccmpanied by O. corresponding public taste
in art Though many grave errors may be
made the people at large will come to the
right conclusion at last. and understand
I would revert all we do in art back to the
court of public opinion, that tribunal of
highest and last resort, and, after the evil
dence is all in, and the pleadings of coun-
sci in our behalf has been entered, we rest
our case. That intelligent court will in
let us be assured that a righteous judg-
ment will be entered
T~5;aroy~o1ir Ton ~