Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-13

allure. Every face is Individual and each
robe is pictured with the utmost detail II
is interesting to note that the same rug
figures in several of the series and that the
same robe appears more than once. FOL
lowing these paintings is a still larger Sc
ries consisting of single figures represent
ing many of the Chinese occupations or
professions. Here is the shoemaker, Tor
example and here the juggler. the street
vender. the scribe and the musician. each
Characteristic and readily recognizable.
Here. too. are the lord and lady in their
royal robes the richness of which would
indeed, be hard to rival. much less TO re-
produce. How this has been done seems
almost incomprehensible. for upon close m
spection the workmanship is found to De
almost without flaw. The colors are
bright, rich and marvelously harmonious;
and the embroidery, with which almost an
the fabrics are overwrought has been rem
dered with realism which would have been
the pre-Raphaelite's despair
OF less human though POSSIBLY even
81 eater artistic interest is the last OF these
rare Chinese paintingS-a series of boats.
In this series one is again reminded of the
fact that the Chinese are a people OF IN
finite pains and patience, for with micro
scopc precision each detail has been
rendered and yet at the same time the
general unity of effect has been retained
The spirit, the grace, the motion of the
boat has in each case, in spite of its UNI
familiar gtlise, been definitely expressed
OF their kind they are as charming and at
tractive as any work could well be.
Artistic Alliance.
Between the art of China and Japan there
is the closest alliance. Indeed, the first
great art wave which broke over japan
swept across from China, and though the
art of each country has its own character
istics, they have also so many points in
common that 1t is almost impossible to
study one comprehensibiy without the other.
In passing from the Chinese paintings at
the Library to the Japanese prints how
ever. 1t should be borne in mind that the
one is demonstration of a fine and the
other of graphic art. The one cellec-
ton of paintings, the other of prints pro-
duced from roughly cut wooden blocks
The first are originals. whereas the second
are but single instances of many reproduc-
tons. OF these some are over two hundred
years old, but the majority belong to the
latter half of the eighteenth and the first
of the nineteenth century
For the most part they are representa-
tions of theatrical scenes, but few pic
ture military pageants and battles. Owing
partly to the national custom of wearing
MASKS in the plays and partly to the myS-
teal character of the dramas, these prints
are generally grotesque, but they are at
the same time curiously interesting They
were originally intended rather as posters
than pictures, and as such they unques-
tionably excel The simplicity of their
composition. the directneSS of their lines
and the harmonies of their colorS are nota-
bic. In some there is force and feeling
even to the point of absurd exaggeration,
while in others rhythm and harmony seem
to have been their chief motive. Take as
an example of the first print in which n
reasonably terrified, unlovoly lady is kneel-
ing in mournful supplication between two
villainOus men, who are brandishing muir
demonstrating swords each apparently in
tent upon taking the poor creatures life,
and as an example of the second one of Il
stream, with it's broad blue swirls of wa
ter, flowing between wooded shores. Each
in its way is interesting and attractive. The
battle prints are more complicated and
less colorful. They give, however, an eX-
cellent idea of the confusion and fury of a
military enga cement when men fought
with spears. hand to hand; and not, as now,
with the far-reaching engines of war
These are by some of the most celebrated
Japanese artists, and in character will be
found very different and very superior to
the familiar common japanese print.
Both the paintings and the prints in this
collection are the property of the Library
of Congress. and have been gotten to-
gether during recent years by the director
of the print division, under whose supervl-
sion the present exhibition has been ar
ranged They, with the other collections
of etchings, engravings and woodcuts re-
Gently placed on view, can be seen at all
hours, both day and evening, during which
the library is open. -
LEILA MECHL1N.