The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-12
MISS KUSSNER'S EXPERIENCE.
Indfana's Famous Miniature Painter
Talks About Her Work.
New York Mail and Express.

Miss Amalie Kussner. the miniature
painter, who has just returned to England
after rather exciting experiences in the
Transvaal. whittier she went to paint
portrait of Cecil Rhodes at Kimberley.
talked entertainingly to a Mail and Express
reporter during her last visit to America
on the difference between English and
American women and their way of posing
for portraits. 1.-The English women enter in
to the spirit of art with you." said Miss
Kussner. when they are about to sit for
portrait, their time is yours. You may do
with them what you please. In America
the woman who is to sit for you rushes in,
tired out from a shopping tour. and the
first thing she says is. Oh Miss Kussner.
/ can't give you the time you expected Of
me, for have so many things to accom-
plish.'
''Yet there is a spontaneity and eagerness
about the American woman that is at all
times refreshing, at all times lovable. But
what a contrast! An English lady engages
to sit for me and invites me to her country
house. meet there party of twenty or
thirty ladies and gentlemen, say. In the
morning, the hostess calls upon each of her
guests and says: You are to drive; you. L
believe, have arranged 10 shoot: you have
arranged for so and so. Now, go and enjoy
yourselves, for ! am to sit for my portrait.
you know"
There is another thing about the English
woman. From the very moment she enters
your presence she carries herself as though
in pose. These women / thought at first
were affected-always posing. But as
grew to know them better L learned that
ii was the spirit of art In them. They are
imbued win an artistic temperament, and
they interest the artist as soon as they step
into the studio. Yet 1T is studied pose.
On the other hand, my countrywomen in
spire by their life, their action, their mag
netism.
After / have finished an English wom-
ans portrait, she looks at it and says never
word, keeping me in the greatest agony
of suspense and doubt. Don't you like it?'
L timidly ask, and she says: oh, yes Miss
Kussner, it is beautiful, and then she
takes it and hides it away.
Totally different is the American wom-
an. The moment she sees the finished por
trait, she gives expression to her feelings.
l do not have to ask or await in silence
her approval. If she likes 1T, she throws
her arms about me and says: Am really
so beautiful as that? And thereafter she
is my friend.
You ask why, If artists make so much
money in America, they return to Eng
land?' Well. 1 will tell you: In England
they make much of artists. Every door is
thrown open to them. 1t is their genius
that the people look at, and they accept
genius for just the greatness of genius, and
court them. In America you have only
your own little Bohemian set. The people
rush, always rush, and apparently have not
time to notice you.
when the English ladies first saw my
portraits of American ladies they rebelled
at the style of dress, for they affect great
simplicity. They also rebelled at decollete
dress, and IL took many efforts before
could educate them to the American stand
ard; for there is nothing so beautiful as
flesh. Even then they stopped at tulle
draperies No jewelry or satins or velvets.
A rose or flower is their only ornament.
"Englishmen are very much like English
women on questions of art. In England
the men with whom came in contact have
nothing to do all day. but stay at home
and help entertain. There, luncheon is
taken by the men and women together and
discussions of art are frequent. The Amer
lean rushes into a restaurant and bolts his
luncheon without much as seeing
woman. Should he meet one, time allows
OF only formalities easily expressed and
shortly over.
THE men of England love and appre-
ciate art; the men of America appreciate
and pay for 1t. 1 have painted men in
tirely at my disposal. Here / must needs
place myself at theirs. though they are not
less appreciative, and their expressions
are more spontaneous. But after all,
want you to say that / love America"
Then from a trunk was brought a book
containing the autographs of those for
whom the little artist had painted. "See,"
Sne SAID, turning the leaves, what they
say to me-, and the reporter read: Truly
your friend" "In love and friendship" "In
sincere love- Always yours" and finally
from one of England's wealthiest houses
Save your money, my dear, for you are
yet very. very young, and you are now in
your heyday'
Then queried the reporter, ''how old
shall 1 say you are?'
LAS old look she said, and though
she may have attained her twenty-sev-
enth year, the reporter jotted down sweet
sixteen and let 1t go at that.
Miss Kussner says the portrait of Mr..
Rhodes which she successfully completed
is very good despite the rather trying cir
cumstances under which it was painted.