New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-30

never be too s,rcnu)us.y grateful md I, Is the
scheme which Mr.. Blum has unfa..ng.y al
hereI. !, has made him charming painter. II has
made him also something u poet. Certainly. the
first pictures OF Venice and Spain which he pro-
ducei had much moro IN :hen than the sparkle due
% contact with the Roman school - painters they
were g'n.rical.y exquisite. and ever since those
works he has progressed higher md higher In tho
df'icnt art OF making nature light AMI dainty
without sacrificing m ,o'a Of her dignity and
freshness 80 painter ~ Venice has surpassed Mr.
Bum In the fraglI,v 81 his Impressions IN their
ircncy OF nbrc. IN their rayshng precision. but no
painter either has employed 50 decorative stye
with such compete absence o' sophsil ton. We
say decorative because Mr.. hum has many 81 the
quallil.. which are expressed IN that cpi,hc,. He
has the picfuresqueness OF design. tho briiancy -
nghi and shade. he has. above AZ. the vivid color
fni tho executive Nu~n-y W !ch often make easel
picture decorative unit But no love - bril-
ar'iy scrsu1us enoc'. prediction FOR note of
coor. - mercy pc'ur"'l1c beauty has over won
NJ Bum from his teraci'y. 10 * real
is,ic than vh.n Do Is lavlshing upon a composition
rn n''riNu'es ~ color and pure pictorial design
which assure him decorative. ciirrv II ia on tina,
rn"ri'. on 'hc soIl''y which goes with his most
flashing AMI dcb'urair studies that It Is perhaps
most significant - lwei
SIR Blum can be praised and praised lavshly for
the sunshine which belongs 20 his art FOR his blue
skies ard me WITNESS thcy bring into his canvas
H. Ticiur-squ'sn-ss Is In Itself bewlltchng The
turn - arm. the nug ~ irapcry. the poise 81
a head nay. the accent % shadow. these things
hay" been handled IN numherc-s Instances by Mr.
Blum with tho rapid surcness 81 touch. the den-
ness. the animation ~ an eNiraorInary hrshman.
AMI his work is fun 81 passages which II IL
tempting pause. with thought - anything but
their charm 81 matters OF form. Of color side 10y
side with his facility an1 accomplishment. how
ever. there goes we have Indicated In more than
On. relation. the substantial motive. the sincere
LIB l.. ftxf ~. a,,.
rank. His Venice is dreamy pageant. n place
81 such only observer OF Imagination
as well 81 ekill could have arrested upon tho
canvas. Holland he has given a reality which IL
none the less real because II is s,reakei with
vagI. suggestions 81 colorlsts enthusiasm.
draughtsman's passion for what Is quaint and ef-
fective IN n strictly pictorial sense. Lastly, and
most important OF all In some respects. his Japan
convincing and beautiful interpretations Of the East
which American art can show. and II IL 10 America.
10 Mr. I.lfnrgc. for example that are Indebted
for the most remarkable OF artistic impressions OF
the orient. Mr. Blum's impression Is intensely
artistic and intensely real 1t Is true. and 1t Is
beautiful. II IS full OF color. fun ~ movement.
full OF Japanese feeling. always picturesque and
yet never 80 In any bald meodramatIc sense. Mr..
Blum seems Ia have resolved that he would get all
the color possible out OF his strangely lovely mod