The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-12-26
The ~HEIIEu GIRL


OF the worlds artists who have won
fame by making pictures of beautiful
women none occupies 2 position more re-
markahie than NJ. Paul Heiieu. OF Paris.
who arrived ia New York last week.
says the New York World He uses none
OF the familiar accessories OF the artist
Pen and paper. brush and canvas are for
sign Ia him He Is not a painter. but an
etcher-a dry-point etcher- His only i'm
elements are plate Of copper and sin
gle needle.
He stands alone in the field he has ehc-
sen. and no one can gain the effects in
black and white that he produces
NJ Heileu has come 10 the United States
TO execute commissions which viii keep
him busy for at least two months. and
very likely longer. unless his love for his
wife, who was unable 10 accompany him
makes him cut short his visit 10 return 10
her.
Long ago Helieu announced that he
would never make the portrait OF any but
g beautiful woman. Occasionally he
draws children. although the delight he
has found IN picturIng his own daughter
IS such that he declares that he does not
care 10 draw the picture OF another. For
years his wife ana his daughter were
Helleu's only models. AS for making 4
portrait OF man, he VII not discuss il
at all
"A beautiful woman" he said pacsiag
"a turning over a portfolio OF his pictures
IN the art shop OF Frederick kcppsn &
Co. at No - East Sixteenth street. WHERE
he makes his American headquarters. "A
beautiful woman is like a beautiful flower.
pure and lovely. She is more exquisite
| than the painters imagination. IL is a
pleasure TO draw her. But 4 homely wo-
mantle long. slender hands fiuttered
| IN eloquent disapproval-"e hcueiy wo-
| r.an-ah, never could / bring myself 10
draw a portrait OF her. Why should one
! want 10 perpetuate uglinessT
\ few minutes later he hurriediy thrust
aside one OF the most exquisite etchings
t. the collection.
NO. no" he said. mot that one. !
| do not want that one published. No wo-
man can be beautiful who Is not good
| II easily can be understood that these
very restrictions attract 20 him many
v omen who otherwise might not care for
blsck-and-white portraits of themselves
| As. for the physical attributes OF Hell
| leu. imagine a slender. lean man more
than six feet tall. with a fne artistic face.
beard several inches long. that suggests
| neither care nor neglect. and a shock Of
| hair not OF the artistic length. that
| sweeps ever his forehead. He has pierre
| ing black eyes and wonderful hands
long. thin. white and overwhelmingly
artistic hands. In repose his expression
| Is thoughtful. almost sorrowful but wher
he smiles he is radiant.
| Helleu's devotion to his wife and daugh-
i ter IS almost as celebrated as his work
/ /. France Never before in all the sixteen
years OF their marriage have they beer
separated for more than week at a time
K She is his comrade In his work. on his
/ yacht. in all his pleasures.
/ IL one measures by the actual time spent
on a portrait. Heileu is probably tbs
I best paid portrait artist in the world. IL,
/ makes a picture at single sitting. usu-
ally in two hours and never longer thar
/ three hours He charges $500 and Soc
for each plate
OF course. only very rich people car
| AFFORD 10 nave the French etoner maxi
portraits Of them. Those unfamiliar will
copper plates may suppose that one cat
/ have as many pictures from them as !;
desired. This is true. but only the mrs
ten or twelve impressions are good Their
I delicate lines begin 10 break and tn
Prints become muddy and rough.
HELEN began his art life as painter
| ~ pastels he displayed great skill as
| draughtsman and he possessed great dis
| comment in handling light and shade
I lie had made reputation for himself II
the Ecole des Beaux Arts when he turned
&C dry-point etching.
one day ne called upon Tissot. the IA
| nous painter and found him at work OF
! a dry-point plate. The process interested
| Helleu and he played with II for time
making such progress that TissOt urge
him TO devote himself TO 10 and offerinI
! 10 become his teacher.
! All OF HeHsu's famous etchings have
been made with a needle presented 20 hin
b. Tissot--a needle with diamond point
which is far better than the steel poin
! commonly used lie guards this needle Al
il il were a scored thin. lie carries j
with him always. and he has a specia
pocket made for IL In every coat he wears
He will allow no one 10 handle * but him
self
So far IS this country is concerned Hell
leu's fashion "a a portrait artist wa
started by the Duchess Of Marlborough
/ o: whom he has made several plates II
I different poses. IL was she who create'
an interest IN him among American wo
| men. and IL is likely that he could spen'
/ many profitable months IN America.
To those who are constantly complain
ing about the uginess OF New York {
I may be r surprise 10 learn that Bclleu i
most enthusiastic about this big town.
1t Is great. IL il grand. IL = entirel1
. wonderful" he exclaimed when he wa
Z asked about H. II never dreamed ~ III
feasibility 81 such things as | Sc svery
/ where Your buildings. your elevate'
( railroads. your street cars and. above all
your air OF energy and business. ~hici
I seems as much q part of.the atrnospherl
I as the oxygen itself. overwtcim me.
feel that 7 shan accomplish more her
than in Paris.