The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-04-30
JAPANESE ART At
THE RECENT EXHIBIT
Mrs. Alexander Graham Bells
Fine Collection.
Charming Bis of Color From ORR
entail Studios.
Leading Local Painters Combine to
Hold n Display and Sale of
Their Work.

Through the courtesy Of Mrs. Alexander
Graham Bell, the Society Of Washington
Artists was able to fill a wall in one of
the galleries at the recent exhibition with
Japanese paintings on silk.
These paintings were all in one way or
another distinguished for artistic excel
lence few of them were SO conspicu-
Gus as to make one look in vain for
counterpart in European schools. While
loyalty japanese in method and point OF
view, the better ones were realistic and
free from convention.
Art of this kind-this high degree OF ex-
cellence-the world over meets on common
ground Birds and animals among these
ropean manner, recalls vividly the work
of Boldini, ViIlegas. Fortuney, or that OF
later men, like Blum and Weldon.
Ii is by the surroundings, which nave
fat, decorative poster touch, that one To-
Gates this work as being purely Japanese.
II has been a wholesome lesson TO the locat
artists, as well as the public, 10 thus S-e
the superb possibilities that lie in simple
realism, which, while being excessively
real and Photographic, is still that point
of view. subtle and delicate, only known
TO the vision of trained artist without
knowing what poetry is, as name, these
artists have the divine spark; st was born
in them-perhaps it is the spirit oil IA
mato.
The japanese for some reason incline
to upright panels for their compositions
in ouite as marked a manner as the Eu-
ropean fayors the surface that is wider
nfrfff
collection was an upright panel-twenls
numbers in all.
"A Mountain Landscape" by Kinkoi
gray and delicate, lofty mountains rising
out of valleys Of drifting mist, simple ano
digni.ed there is a solemn and most rever-
emf feeling in this naive Interpretation OF
these great masses. There is wonderiui
realism in the mist TO which the silkel
surface lends itself as the gray paper does
in some Of Hopkinson Smiths effects o.
atmosphere, though never with the exqui-
site delicacy only possible on silk or ivory
A snowstorm OF great bleakness, In the
foreground of which two shiyerlng los'
wolves stand and wall. is by Shinsai Josen
There is something pitiful In the utter
helpfulness and misery of these starved
creatures. These gaunt, haggard wolves
are not humanized to awaken sympathy
They are vicious brutes. cruel-looking, as
were ever lAclufeo W any paiheei.
Indeed there is curious likeness to thf
venomous. serpent-like aspect Of an alli-
gator In the head OF one OF the wolves
His head Is thrown across and resting
upon the shoulder of his mate, Just as ar
ailigators head might rest on some messy
log in Florida lagoon. IL is the painter
like fidelity OF Swami, but only in It's
great truth, for the picture is intensely
Japanese
Delicate Bird Pictures.
BY Shiunsui are some wonderfully deli
cate prescriptions of birds and fish. Tit
japanese have rare ability TO see the beau
ty Of color and line in these things. Hote
is the most interesting master represente,
In this collection. II is probable thu
connoisserr might find these things to-
strongly Influenced by European methods
Be that as 1t may. the up-to-date painte
Ends the best qualities OF the antique
grated upon the modern Japanese, and
is In such things as these that the moderi
learns the most valued lessons the Japan
se artist is able to teach.
Geese Flying Over Surf is perfec
bit OF movement, but the quickest Gamer