The San Francisco call., 1908-09-27

= AetAeA 66le park, n q pictur-
escue stone house close by the old
windmill, lives an artist whose
work snd personality together are
striking enough to command attention.
lie would probably repudiate the term
artist and satisfy himself with the
more modest title OF student; but
there is work hanging on the walls OF
his house which dec-ies the word and
shows the existence OF undoubted tai
enN enough al least TO enroll his name
among those known IN the local col
ony- This man IS HaamarstrOzn
whose mORotypes alone, as made IA
millar 70 the art going public through
various exhibitions, are sufficient TO
sTfn him the place he holds. A mono
tEpe is what its name i-nplies-onlv
one OF 3 kind can be obtained And
the fashion OF their making is curious
A sheet OF copper is covered with a
paint, usually OF a brown tone. With
q dne brush, or IN some cases q point
= landscape or fgure-purely imag-
insry-is outlined on the copper plate.
II is work Of extreme delicecy and
requires clear conception. The land
scape finished, an impression IS taken
on paper, usually by means OF heavy
rollers The effect produced is one OF
charming celicacy and beauty. Ham
arstrom has several Of these mono
types now at Del Monte. They have
received unqualified praise from artists
who have watched his work Asked
how he came 10 try this line OF art
he replied; I had seen prints made
before, and 1 began to wonder IL
couldn't do il myself Anyway. I made
up my mind 20 try, and I've had pretty
good luck"
The unframed artist. unused to the
ways OF schools, academies, or even
~ ina u
painter, too He can show a variety
OF pictures ranging from the tiny
emptiness OF q lost babys shoe TO the
storm rage Of the sea He is fond
OF marine scenes From his window
be can behold ever changing pictures
he has done some extraordinary work
N this line But nothing pleases him
better than TO make sketches Of na-
ture which lies all about him. Bits
OF the park greensward, with brilliant
Towers rioting down the edges in con-
fusion; glimpses OF tree vistas. secret
haunts IN the woods where the wild
cUan feed. visions OF the tumbling
sea unrufhed by the wind-all these
are his delight and day By day they
grow beneath his hands
6e began his career as an artist
when he was standing on the rear
platform OF a streetcar punching trans
tine for aught else, but there were
moments when he was free surrep-
uticusly 20 draw out a pencil stub and
O. the backs OF unused time cards
make quick sketches OF people who
boarded his car These pencil sketches
are unique. A few OF them are almost
Aeissonie- like fn the facial expression
Hnned with barely more than a line or
two Little did his passengers imagine
as they sat quietly IN corners OF IolIed
n fatigue against seats. or talked vi
Factously 10 each other, that their
facial characteristics were being trans
ferre6 to paper by the young con-
cuctor who passed his few moments
OF leisure IN the pursuit OF art. He
had one day OF IN ten, and that day
ne devoted 70 painting. Now he has
a large family and he still works for
3 living. but he finds time for the
humorous sketches, the marine scenes
the garden bits and the figure work.
OF which there are some fine examples /
IN his quaint little studio. He has
marine on view at the Del Monte gal
. lery, and viii exhibit at the Art Iusti-
'Flte this fall Haamarstrom has the
qualities that tend 10 perpetuate art,
and these qualities shine in all his
work
Chris Jorgensen has a picture at
Eabjohn & MOrcom's which compares
1svorabiy with any Of his recent work
II IS e large canvas of the Yosemite
IN which field he Is the master since
the death OF Hill, and Is painted from
q point not often chosen The frown-
ing sleeps Of Fl Captain loom on the
left OF the scene. with Clouds Rest and
Eaif Dome shrouded IN exquisite deep
blue haze at the end OF the canyon, IN
which also are caught glimpses OF the
Royal Arches and Sentimental Dome
IS Inevitably striking through the
handling OF the fine color effects and
the sense OF depth and space conveyed.
The light. brilliant yet soft blue OF the
Half Dome is remarkable in its render
ing. the edges being almost too rigidly
defined for haze effects. but the gen
eral impression Is that OF light and
majesty.
Jorgensen has many studies OF the
= Eosemite in his studio on the Merced
river. All the falls. either IN the dry
season or the rainy, a number OF big
trees. IN which work he has been
markedly successful. have been repro
duced. and there are sketches made
from every available point IN the val
icy. The large canvas alluded 10 above
was painted from little below In
spfrstion point and shows Bridal Vel
falls in the dry season as a mere
thread.
one o. Jorgense1s most valued
works is the picture. worked UP from
sketches made on the spot. Of the city
hall 20 minutes after the earthquake.
II IS an extraordinary canvas and
nothing would induce the artist TO
part with IT.
His Merced river bungalow is full Of
skins. Indian rugs ana curious and
antique things. while a magnificent
collection Of copper kettles occupies
corner near the huge fireplace Stuffed
owls and eagles stand IN ranks on the