The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-09
THE WESTERN ARTISTS.
10 EAST WASHINGTON STREET.

Why should the Society of Western Art
lists be encouraged? A friend of the So
ciety, in answer to the inquiry, made this
reply:
1T should receive the hearty support of
the western people for this reason 1t is
american. large number of the works
in the present exhibition could not have
been produced abroad. They have national
characteristics, in many cases Western
characteristics. n national art does not
grow In any country by Importation. 1t
must be the expression of the native temper
ament: born OF the people, picture its life
landscape ana atmosphere.
said Joseph lsraeis, the eminent Dutch
painter, TO an American artist whom he
found painting in Holland, Why do YOU
Americans come over here and paint our
subJectSy You cannot, under any circlm-
stant es do them as well as we who have
grown up among them from childhood and
have them in our hearts. Have you MOTH
ing worthy of being painted in American
In other words he means you who might
be an American, become a second-rate
Dutchman or Frenchman, and the long
expected national art of America does not
awakening of the national spirit there
should be a quick response to every earnest
eirort to express in its art those things that
are our own. We believe in ourselves and
our country. This patriotism should extend
beyond politics and business In literature
there Is on the part Of the people a desire
to discover and appreciate that which is
national in the work Of our authors II
should equally be the case in regard To IFS
painters ana sCutptOfS, It's illustrators and
designers. II is so with regard to our
illustrators, but only to a very limited ex-
tent is II so I'm other departments of art
The tremendous influence of the business
interests Is the other way With the great
picture dealers IL Is purely a question of
proilts, and their interests lie in favor of
foreign art and of the preservation of the
almost universal sentiment in favor of that
which Is produced abroad. Over 500 900 0O0
OF American money has gone to France
years has been the great art market Of the
world, but not for the American artist How
much the artists are themselves to blame
for this (and doubtless they are somewhat
10 blame for their lack of independence and
suhservience to foreign standards) il is still
true they are not chiefly TO blame The
practical thing TO do now is to meet and
recognize every influence that makes for a
national expression.
''phe artist cannot do it ALL He must
be met half way. The Society of Western
Artists stands for Western art II has
not brought out the full strength of the
West. but II aims TO do it, and will do it
II the public responds TO its efforts i'm any
generous measure And the only response
the public can make is to attend its ex-
hihitions, recognize the seriousness of its
attempts and buy as far as able There
are IN the West many able artists pursuing
their art under the greatest difficulties
There will be a national art i'm which
a Western art Will take no inconspicuous
place, when the people desire IT. but il
cannot come. and never has come in any
land without the intelligent discriminating
support OF the people"