Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-01
book ILLUSTRATIONS
Collection Of Original Drawings
Now on View
AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Many Noted Artists Are Represented
in Exhibit.
GOOD CHARACTER STUDIES
Child Pictures by Prominent Women
Workers = Charming Pen
and Ink Sketches.

An interesting collection of original draw
ings by noted illustrators is now on view
In the upper hall Of the Washington Pub
lie Library. Set forth in connection with
an exhibit OF Christmas books 1t consists
chiefly Of recent work produced especially
for the holiday publications. A wide Held
Is covered, however, and an excellent gen.
eral survey given Of this branch Of modern
art illustrating has become not only q
great business but great art Books.
periodicals and newspapers today are pro-
fusely Illustrated. and some Of the fore
most artists are giving their time complete
ly to the making of Illustrations
Tremendous strides have been taken In
the last few years in the methods of re-
production, and an immense advance has
been made In the character of Illustrations
The day Of the old-fashioned wood-cut is
not so far past. and to realize the improve
ment in modern methods II Is only neces-
sary to take from the shelf some books
read In the seventies and compare them
with those brought out in the present year
of grace. The illustrations then were
chiefly line engravings and wood-cuts, some
exceedingly worthy. but the majority crude
and frail. Upon the frontispiece was ex-
pended chief enort, and after this few
less sumptuous drawings were given place.
The change has probably been wrought
through the necromancy Of photography.
w OeTedS all WOfk DaQ 10 Do re-
produced line for line 1t now can be rem
dered in fiat tints The half-tone process,
skNlfully manipulated, gives to the modern
illustrator almost endless scope. Capable
of the most delicate variations 1t permits
the worker to use any medium. and only
requires Of him correct values and linear
precision. There are. of course, still tech
nical restrictions-the process has not yet
reached perfection-but these are being
continually iessened, and they are even
now no bar to truly artistic expression.
Charming Water Colors.
If one would doubt this, look at the
charming water colors in this exhibition
trations for two of Ellen Douglas Deland's
latest books. They are primarily iliustra-
TONS and performing their initial function
incline the observer to look into the book,
but they are Independently little works of
art Pass next to w. +. Steckers strong
work in black and white, and note the
vigor of his brush strokes and the careful
drawing of his figures. There is also swing
and force in Chase Emerson's illustrations
which, in such examples as that accom-
panying THE Young Rangers" adds, as an
additional charm, definite art feeling. The
men these illustrators set forth are not
mere puppets made to play part, but IN
dividuals who, according to the authors
intention, one might be glad or sorry to
meet again. And yet neither displays un-
usual originality, and their works are more
ACCIDENTALLY good than definitely personal
For actual character studies one must
hunt up Florence Shovel Shinn's little pic
ture in line and color of one of The
Widow O'Callaghan's Boys, or May VII
son Prestons pictorial interpretations OF
Seeing France With Uncle john" or Har-
rison Cadys grotesQue illustrations to Mrs.
Frances Hodgson Burnett's new fairy tales.
These are all charming and delightful and
are as unlike each other as they are diff
ferent from the rest. Charles Dana Gibson
did not succeed because he drew so well,
but because he had individuality plus-be-
cause he saw things in new way and had
an original way of presenting them.
Doubtless this is part of the charm to be
found in Jules Guerin's architectural rem
derings and especially in his illustrations of
The Chateaux of Touraine," which are
shown here in proof sheets and In the
bound volume They are almost flat tran
scrptions done in thin washes of color over
charcoal outlines, and yet they conserve the
poetry of the places themselves and are
the atmospheric and convincing. No one
else had though of transcriping buildings in
just this way, and yet now 1t seems most
simple and natural.
Much Color Used.
Blanche McManus, 1t will be seen, has
pursued another method in her transcript
lions made to accompany Francis Miltoun's
book on Castles and Chateaux of Old
Touraine and the Loire Country" following
the more stereotyped manner and employing
color with almost prodigality.
What a range there Is between such ex
quisite reproduction as are here shown of
Arthur I. Kellers Illustrations of the LIE
gends OF Sleepy Hollow" and the common
poster! Not that the last may not in its
way be worthy. Mr.. Keller is an artist of
more than ordinary distinction. At one
time president of the Society OF Illustra-
tors, he is member of both the New York
and American Water Color Clubs and also
OF the National Arts Club Of the same city.
The series Of his Illustrations for Irving's
republished volume are shown merely in
proof sheets, but even SO are of great inter-
est and art value. Those which resolve
themselves into carefully finished pictures
are especially noteworthy and instructive