The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-03-13
Good Things Done by Coron D'Ache.

each of which was entirely evolved and
produced by me, being first drawn,
then cut out and pasted on zinc leaf,
which, when once more SilhOuetted,
produced a sentient member of my large
dramatic company. I may add that
the whole work from beginning to end
was entirely carried out by me.
''The whole action took place across
comparatively small white screen.
attended every performance and stage
managed the whole affair myself.
think / may say he added, modestly,
that I succeeded in creating a very
vivid impression of life and movement.
Each detail of every little figure was as
carefully studied as were those of Ma
poleon l himself and 1 made many ex-
periments before l felt even half-satis-
fled with the result. The most striking.
and also the most popular, tableau was
undoubtedly The Retreat from Rus
sia,' for. a curiously impressive effect
was produced by the slow passage in
single file of countless men, horses,
wagons and carriages across the great
snowbound plains.'
But the artist was too modest to
allude to the extraordinary impression
produced by this strange work Of gen.
ius. From all parts of the continent ar
lists, eager to make acquaintance with
this extraordinary novelty, crowded to
the Chat Noir. Among those who made
their way up the steep streets of old
Montmartre were celebrities as
strangely different as the Prince of
Wales, General Boulanger and the then
President of the French republic. Meis-
sonier, the great military painter. de-
clared himself astonished at the ex-
traordinary accuracy of the costumes
and uniforms as indicated in the sill
houette. Drawings of PEpopee were
sent 'by request" to the late Car, who
to the end of his life was one of Caran
d'Ache's most constant patrons. In
deed, much of his best work even now
goes to Russia.
Strange as you may think it," he
continued. IT have always been ex-
tremely anxious to do serious work.
For years I have cherished the scheme
of some day devoting my life to COM
pleting a great series of military pic
lures taken from every period of his
tory. One of my heroes. by the way, Is
the great Marlborough. But all brill
liant deeds of arms attract me. and
even as a boy I began collectionsof
military relics"
"And as to your methods OF WORK.
well, I work very slowly, and so
far have preferred to draw In line. OF
course, from my point OF view artists
should be able to draw anything. AS
to myself" he added. laughing. /
leave one branch Of art severely alone;
that is portrait painting. Friends have
often asked me to draw them; II ever
I attempt to carry out their wishes
they are anything but pleased with the
result. You see, the worst OF IT Is. 4
really see people in line, and OFTEN,
when I have produced group which
/ consider almost Photographic In Its
accuracy. I am Informed thar l nave
rarely made a better caricature!
"And where do you find your sub
jects?"
Caran d'Ache made a vague gesture.
How can I tell? Here, there and ev-
erywhere; at a smart wedding; at any
one and at all of the funerals. which.
alas! play so great part in our So
cial life; when riding on top Of an ON
nibus; walking, riding, cycling, impress
s1ons are stamped as 1t were on my
brain. / do not entirely rely ON men,
ory, for am fond OF jotting down
notes in a small memorandum book If
l hear funny or original phrase, a
joke that strikes me as really new. or
anything that will suggest new COM
position. / make use of kind or ar
tistic shorthand, which l will defy any
one but myself to understand; the
signs are made very quickly. they over
lap one another: to me each is instinct
with meaning, and even with form.
But when 1T comes to the finished draw
ing"-he paused moment and took a
long breath-''that is a very different
matter. no pains can be too great; and
! can truly say that at no time, even