Evening journal., 1907-09-26


understand For an unappreciative
public they would not go to that ex-
pense, This IS an ndeniabe fact
and it would not exist We're it not
collateral fact that the American pub
lie demands that it be given good pic
lures SO far as j can see, the com
plant that the American people do
not care for good pictures does not
obtain with our best artists. Ia
Fargo, Homer. Blashheld, st. Gaudens,
French and artists Of that class do
not complain OF lack Of appreciation
1 do not believe that the American
public is unappreciative OF art. even
if. as vet. it does not always know
what is good art
"As for the value to our men of
European study" he went on, very
likely the lack of It may make our
artistic beginnings more crude and ili-
formed than they might be otherwise.
Yet from these beginnings a technique
may be developed bstter suited to
American art needs than is the techni-
que Of Europe. The peril of European
study is that the technique instead Of
the human thought becomes the ideal.
/ But be that as it may. the schools of
Europe are becoming insufficient TO
satisfy the demands OF American
students, for to-day we are painting
pictures not only as good as the
French pictures. but even better"
Does not magazine illustration tend
to restrict the range Of our art?" I
asked.
He shook his head Formerly per-
hur
designer for the wood engraver but
not now. when drawings are repro
duced in the facsimile. To-day the IL
illustrator stands as the typical Amerl-
can artist-so that should I be called
on to abandon any particular line of
art. illustration is the last I should
give up. OF course. J don't mean by
illustration. the making of diagrams OF
the text. A work of true art must be
independent and superior to the text"
I questioned him about his habits Of
work.
Il work with great absorption, but
have taught myself 70 forget work
when I close my studio door" he said.
II live here in order to escape the
ceaseless talk about art and art
methods and art ideals. do not think
that 1 could otherwise bring every day
to my work the unfailing joy and en-
thusasm / now find in It, MY work
becomes very facile to me as the result
OF thirty years incossant labor. My
pictures We're at first rude and in
coherent. and even now I am perhaps
technically what most men are in their
beginnings But the public liking for
nv work seems to indicate that true
success depends less upon facility than
uopn the ideal purpose"
(which of your pictures do you pre-
fer to the rest2"
II might tell which of them pleases
me most. but not which is the best.
am frequently surprised that the pic
ture which 1 deem we'll done does not
please the world about me. I doubt
very much If any man can really tell
which is his best work. Personally I
would always rather accept the verdict
of the world at large than / would my
own individual opinion"
Mr.. Pvle's idea as to final purposes
of art may be outlined as follows: A
man is a true artist in so far as he
aepresents in a beautiful form a
though that exists within his own
mind. Technique is Of value only so
far as II may give expression to higher
thought. I fear that our art teachers
too often miss this fact that they too
often subordinate the divine gift of
imagination to the advantages OF
technical methods. have been very
successful in teaching my pupils by
criticizlng their lack of technique, not
Tsaa.. u. 4.
but by pointing out that certain faulty
technical methods which have been
used have interfered with the lucid and
simple expression Of the thought or
the image pictured within the mind
For others as well as FOR artists there
are profound lessons to be drawn from
Howard Pyles story. The material
in himself with which he had to deal
was stubborn and intractable. but the
spirit in him was great and constant.
and in the end il conquered. And the
very difficulties against which he had
to contend rendered more sensitive
instead Of blWnting-his perception Of
the fine and high meanings of art.
Art is a divine thing-a revelation
and must be approached with rever-
ence. and won by the sacrifice of self
] Its blessings may come late. but they
viii be bestowed uDon worshipper
who has kent his conscience clean and
his honor pure. Howard Pyle has
contributed to the art Of his country
pictures which are beautiful and
honest imaginative and true; but ne
has also given something more and
better than pictures; he has given us
an example OF a life ccnsecrated to
lofty ends. constant to them through
trials and temptations. never content
TO rest in past attainments, but using
these as monitors and guides to advanc
ing vet nearer to the ideal He has
recognized a soul Of human use in art,
and has cultivated it with the purpose
and the hope that the world may be
better because he has worked and be-
lieved in great ideals He has done
It all with the simplicity and modesty
Of a child. with the courage and
thoroughness of a man We have our
so-called kings of finance and in
/ dustry; but there is a Durer crown for
those who. in the uproar and confusion
of modern competition for material re-
wards and advertised success. keep
alive in their souls disinterested
nassion for use and beauty, and, rs
Emerson has said.
Obev at eve the voice obeyed at primel
fire house. All of the decorations
which served for the opening last
2