The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-05

In an essay on the permanenoo Of art, Mr..
Guthrie submits that II Ia quite impossible for
any one, who desires to see a noble work Of art
perpotuateq from age to age, to postpone q sot-
tlement In his mind Of the vital issue, realism
or idealismf Absolute realism IL at once die
missed as an absurd theory which no great
artist has ever carried into his workshop. Tho
theory 10 compelled to make concession after
concession to Its opponents. The nero practical
exigencies OF n picture, n statue. a sonata, or a
poem forbid an unninching obedience to the
maxims logically deduciblo from the extreme
position OF the realists. Absolute realism would
require that no alteration DO made in the data
.otnaturo; that no right Of selection, resolution,
and accumulation Of parts DO claimed by the
artist; that Nth Of cutters and blues OF heaven
should DO accounted equally interesting and de-
ioctablo; that no extraneous attractions should
DO imported into the objects selected at random
Tor copy; that tho artist, without any tmperti.
nent notions Of beauty and u~gliness. should
transcrtbo unaltered, unshaded. unemphasized
what he sees. injecting into his work nothing Of
his own intellectual and moral self. no sugges-
tion OF q personal message TO men, not the faint
est Impress of his presence and preference. In
fact, absolute realism is a theory which demands
OF the artist that he be q machine. and his work a
transparent window through which q man may
tbek SNhe hasbs
Indeed, tho artist would have to be q machine
undisturbed by any natural conditions whatso-
ever. always and In all places equally able
and willing to observe and reproduce. Tho
Photographic camera Is far too human to be the
ideal practitioner. 1t has an unwarranted pref
udtco for light. Vague profundities Of twilight
awe and midnight horror the sensitive plato re-
fuses to report The eye can give more than tho
camera, but, unluckily, behind tho eye Is lodged
a living, sensitive soul, q medium whose refract-
ing power Is never absolutely calculable. Even
the eye scientifically trained has Its theory to
prove. puts its own construction upon things.
secs only what attracts 1t, and has a history
which determines its method Of observation and
the nature OF what attracts or fails to attract.
Indeed. the very constitution OF tho eye 10 q
mute reproof 10 realism. All things arc seen &C.
cording TO the eyes structure. and not. primari-
ly, according to the structure Of things. Then,
again, there Is q horizon. Once more, things
appear TO us grouped according to our own
position. So II Is with the soul. and, sooner or
later. every artist will have to reckon with the
soul In its totally. Here the author interjects
an averment that the artist who consults tho
souls demand for beauty cannot afford to
neglect its demand for goodness. All realism Is
an exaggerated attempt to satisfy the souls do.
mand for truth. We are cautioned. however. TO
N"hs boh &c q uLll, NJ NOW
much we may dissect him In our text books of
psychology. theology. rhetoric. or anatomy.
There is one soul with many faculties. II 1t be
satisfied as to truth. but morally offended, the
hurt will counterfeit the delight. Let the artist
theorize as he will, he can never declare himself
Independent Of the ultimate moral ideal, much
less OF contemporary feelings as to what
is repulsive, foul. and villainous. Tho
most obstinate realist would find that
only those Of his works which happened
to give some favorable aspect Of nature, some
shocking or lovely combination. allowing OF a
definite. rational. or emotional construction.
would attract and hold the attention OF his pub
lie. The public always was, and will be, ideal
istic. 1t has enough to do with dust and squa.
Tor. 1t loves tinsel. anything that will rescue it
from the WEAKNESS of the commonplace. Fl.
deity to crude fact is the last thing 1t appre-
ciates. 1t may admire and praise the skill of
the literal copyist. but 1t will soon turn away,
bored or angered. from his works. In words,
ono may assert that all things In nature are
equally beautiful. When It comes to practice.
ono soon finds that all things will not equally
endure artistic reproduction. Realism, then, is
not so much a theory as q reactionist CRY. Fun
damentally. IL Is a plea for truth. As truth,
however, Is not all that the soul wants, realism
is impotent. or rather inadequate. to rule when
tho reins of government are put In its hands.