New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-06
JAPAN.
THE IMPRESSIONS OF CLEVER ARTIST


teeth of the saws are set in what may be called
the opposite" direction. and that. therefore
when man pulled his instrument toward MIN
it cut the wood, rather than when he pushed
and he says:
In this. as in everything else the japanese are
perfectly right
II 8. good deal for a whole nation to be per-
fectly right in everything; but this idea is the
keynote Of Mr.. Menpes's book 1t was perhaps
natural for the English artist to be taken cap
tive by a country where everything is regulated
hy artistic principles; and he is one of the
most thcroughgoing admirers Of this japanese
way The text of his book has been Transcribed
by his daughter. His record in color con-
sists Of a large number of sketches printed IN
q halftone process, apparently reproductions OF
water color drawings in which, cannot help
suspecting, something has been lost in coherencS
of outline though the color is charming.
Most Of what Mr. Menpes has to say IN
giorihcation of japanese traits. and especially
of the japanese artistic instinct, has been made
known TO the Western world before, but his
enthusiasm and the thorough study he has mace
of these subjects as artist himself lend d
peculiar interest to his book Some OF his mos'
interesting observations were made upon ms
fellow painters in Japan. These artists have a
great admiration for Michael Angelo and ne
tells of photographs of one of the Itanahs
statues that could scarcely be distinguished
from similar photograph of japanese BUD
dha, though of course, the Oriental sculptor had
probably never seen a work of Michael Angelo.
Show the japanese artist photographs OF Nelas-
cuez Rembrandt and Botticelli, and he would
at once seize upon the last named; the other two
do not appeal TO him much The japanese
method of training is the opposite OF the EURO
peen; there is drawing direct from models;
bat the student is taught to study every detah
Of what is before him, to store his brain Win
Impressions of every curve and line, then 10 go
sway and draw the object from memory he
studies nature in detail but not with a We" "
creating picture.
Mr. Menpes had an interesting day with the
great Japanese master Kiyosai. watching his
methods and his wonderful technique He Ola
four pictures each taking from seven to ten
minutes 10 complete; and they constituted lIe
finest lesson in water color painting MT
Menpes had ever received. Looking at his silk
the japanese canvas-for few moments
Kiyosai thought out his picture before he put
his brush on the canvas First he traced
few sure lines with a burnt twig, then, taking
up his brush he began at once with the indian
ink with full powerful color. The immediate
result was a picture superbly drawn and full OF
cfaracter-"a complete impression of two plach
crows! We may admire the technique that pro-
duced them, and their decorative value When
finished but il is somewhat disconcertlng' a1ter
the eulcgistic preliTninaries 10 be faced Win
results that are TO the Western mind, after ali'
SO comparatively Insignificant 1t is also soihe
nat disrnaying to learn that this greatest o1
masters when painting his hnest Work Is iiei4'
always drunk
Placing is almost a religion with the jap
anese Every object must be placed in exacty
the right relationship with every other Inc
bough Of blossom in the room must take l's
proper position in the picture; the slgnooard on
the shop the stamps on al envelope are an
subject to the same laws Every street Is
picture: the town is placed" properly IN reia-
ton to the mountains round about it Nature
must also be brought into artistic supJecIoli-
We in the West labor under the deiusion that
# Nature were TO be allowed to have her own
sweet way she would always be beautiful
rhe Japanese know better They play upon
Nature" even on the landscape; the whole couh-
try is thought out in huge blotches to form a
perfect picture in harmony and in design. AND
artifciality rules over ali things
Mr. Menpes having formed friendships with
certain merchants and craftsmen, especially OF
artistic wares. was by way Of penetrating INTO
the inner secrets of trade as it is understood
in Japan Trade morals in the Occident are
none too high but they seem to bear comparison
better than Occidental ideas of art with lhose
of Japan, which seem TO be about on a pIalle
with a horse Jockeys. The Enghsh artlsl Is
never tired Of telling now the japanese meF-
chant has cheated the English or the American
purchaser who is ignorant Of the difference De-
tween the old and the new, the good and the
had the real and the spurious To be sure the
would-be purchaser IS often intent on outw1ttng
tbe seller and getting rare pieces for song
and this NAV be pleaded in justification for the
,v.vs that are dark in Japan; but somehow one
hopes for better things Of a people whose merits
are forced upon us as so superior Mr. Menpes's
.nst;scation of them is presented thus:
The westerner does not appreciate the really
fine and beautiful articles that the J2paIies MS
soul worships; therefore the merchant gives
him what he thinks the Westerner wants anu
asks the price he thinks the traveller VIII give
When we first came INTO touch WIN 7 't f;s+GT,
anese we began by cheating them ana 1oisltIIs
6ecentions upon them, and now they Simply
furn The tables upon Us and CHEAT US 10 lie
hest of their ability. The only dliererce is ina
a. Tananese have more intelligence ABOUT
wrong done them, and their motive 1or chea'iiis
IS thus resentingly greater.
AS matter of fact the average traveller
sc MT stand q chance against the japanese
rc,arts. half the collections ticketed and
,,,aced in museums in England as fine and
,,nio,,e specimens says Mr.. Menpes. ARE IN
vesl,tv worthless limitations" The really hne
,roductions never leave the country at dll.
We sterners visiting Japan expect 10 secure line
works of art by paying small sum Tor theil'
,,,,t II cannot possibly be done. In that country
-hav know the value of their productions. and
x.-;u not easily part with them One OF Ohe
-,os+ attractive pictures presented by Nj.
,sa,res IS that Of the band Of workmen ne gain
cred together to produce a houseful OF Deco
rations that he intended to ship to England for
q