Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-27


to the bridal pair.
The One Hundred Examples of Fiiiai
Piety have been the perennial subject OF
Japanese art from time immemoriaL
Hartmann In the same line speaks OF the
art works of the japanese as full of beauty
and seem the natural manifestation of
serene, c0ntented and happy minds.
This feeling OF warm affection is express
ed continuously in the exquisite pictorial de-
vices styled surimono circulated among
friends on festival occasions and commence
rative greetings In private life, correspond
Ing to our Christmas, New Year and birth
day cards, which are decorated In the mos.
dainty and charming manner with tokens
expressive OF tender love and good wishes
Tor the happiness, prosperity and longevity
of the recipient
An effective moral lesson is taught in one
OF the commonest representations II, Japa-
neSe art-that of the group of three mon
keys where the first screens his eyes with
his hands, the second his ears, and the
third his mouth. to show that we should
never see, hear nor speak evil.
The sad story OF the unhappy Ono-No-
kumachi, commencing with her career as
reigning beauty, popular poet, then the
successive stages of her downfall TO a con-
dition of beggary and AFFECT misery, end
ing with death from starvation, is depicted
with infinite pathos by japanese artists.
Everywhere in art, literature and the
drama the story is told of The Forty-Seven
Ronns, the devoted band who cheerfully
sacrificed their lives to the protection of
the honor of their chieftain and to the work
of bringing to punishment the perfidious
miscreant responsible for his death.
Artists Not Blind to Beauty.
Now to their artistic blindness to
beauty in the human form. Mr.. s. Hart
mann, author of "A History of American
ART, and a recognized authority upon art
matters. says In his work on Japanese
Art: The Japanese artists see in women
giorifcation of all beautiful things
Other competent writer's upon Japanese art
nave dWelt upon the work of special artists
IN th1s line; OF Sukenobu. Haronobu and
Hokusai noted for the singular grace and
refinement with which they invested the
female figure: of Yeishi, Nizan and Yeisen,
VINO devoted their art almost exclusively
10 the charms and graces of japanese
Womanhood; of Utamaro, characterized as
the greatest painter of Japanese women
and noted for the Infinite tenderness and
grace, the exquisite beauty and delicacy of
forms and flowing lines with which he rem
dered his subjects
And this is the art which Sir Rutherford
Alcock asserts is blind to beauty virtue
pathos, piety, everything charming and ele-
waiting in man.
1T is the art that as Miss Scidmore saws.
mas ALREADY revolutionized the western
world, leaving its impress everywhere
1T is the art that taught Whistler his ex-
qnslte draughtmanship and brushwork
subtle gradations of tone and dainty color
harmones. the art from which Manet and
Tic + ieHcu school OF lmpreSSlOniStS got
their inspiration, and that as Hartmann
declares, has influenced the several lines Of
work OF Whistler, Manet. Degas Skarbina
the German secessionfsts, Puvis de Chav-
annes, ID. w. Tryon, Steinlein and Monet
ana he adds that nearly two-thrds of all
painters who have become prominent dur
ing the last twenty years have learned in
one instance or another from the jap
anese.' ~.
That pre-eminent authority in matters
japanese. Captain F. Brinkley, in his adj
m1rable work upon Japan; Its History
Arts and Literature says of japanese art
II at 1t displays remarka BILE directness of
method and strength of line; that the artist
kEows exactly what he wants to draw and
draws it with unerring fidelity and force;
that the very outlines of the picture are
IL themselves picture, and that the whole
is pervaded by an atmosphere of refinement
tenderness and grace
ut is the art that drew from John Leigh
ton, more than forty years ago, a tribute
to the marvellous skill. of the Japanese
artists; that Edward F. Strange in 'Japa-
nese Illustration characterizes as the de-
llghtful arts of Japan and says as mere
arrangements of decorative color they are
generally superb; as exercises in compost
ton they are in the aggregate unsur-
passed
What is to be the future of this remark
able people? This is the great problem
now before the world. The pursuit of this
inquiry will necessarily lead to a close
study of the antecedents Of the Japanese
Industries and arts, and 1t is believed that
this collection will afford the inquirer a
considerable amount of information.
II hope to be able to add in my lifetime to
the interest and Importance of the exhibit
here presented. Sincerely yours,
(Signed) CROSBY S. MOVES"
Librarian Putnam's Reply.
In prompt and courteous response came
the following acceptance:
WASHINGTON, October IS 1905
MY Dear Mr.. Noyes: have received your
communication, making formal tender of
the gift to the library of your collection of
Japanese pictures, engravings, illustrated
books, etc, which have been for several
months in our possession, but are only now
formally transferred. Pray believe our ac-
ceptance and acknoW edgment as cordial
as We desire them to be prompt
Your letter of gift indicates most inter-
estingly the significance of the collection in
rejecting the life, it reflects the art, OF
Japan; and makes clear that Japanese art
not merely exhibits an artistic facility, but
embodes an ethical spirit With your per-
mission, we shall be glad to publish the let
ter in connection with the announcement
of the gift.
THE intrinsic interest of the material is
greatly enhanced to this library by the fact
that 1t represents on your part many years
of careful and devoted accumulation, not
merely in this country and Europe. but in
Japan itself. We are gratified at your init
nation that 1t is to be further added to in
the future
ut will Immediately be prepared for ex-
hibit. With its first exhibit we shall asso-
ciate with it some of the other subjects of
art which you have lent to US, the net
sukes, etc, which Will reinforce 1t by Their
further illustration of the achievements OF
japanese art.
with high regard and appreciation, I
am faithfully yours,
(Sgned) HERBERT PUTNAM
Librarian of Congress
Hon Crosby S. Moves, The Washington
Star, Washington"
The "First Exhibit"
The first exhibit" referred to above is
now set forth In a series of cases placed In
the main hall of the Library of Congress.
1t consists of but a small part of the entire
collection, and yet has been made represen-
tative of the whole The prints which have
been selected not only mirror the drifting
world" of Japanese life, but stand for the
best output of the famous artisan painters;
their catalogue furnishes an almost COM
plete list of the master print-makers. The
illustrated books chosen for the purpose
cover a wide range of subjects, and DEM
onstrate great versatility in manner of ex-
preston And the carvings, the bronzes
and other curios while not numerous are