New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-12-07
ART EXHIBITIONS
Nesc Pictures by Tsco Amer
ican Painters.

In the collection OF pictures which Mr..
Chade Has sam is showing AZ TIE Mont
rose Gallery there is one SO interesting
and - beautiful that almost 4; would make
a little exhibition by itself This is THE
ola Elns." a study OF a country road on
which two workmen are cutting. up a fallen
tree There are houses in the background.
such simple buildings you win see any
where an the American countryside. They
have no special character. unless IL be the
character Of home. That is what We find
50 interesting IN the picture. the SAVIOR Of a
sensitive intimacy with the true physiog-
nomy 81 our landscape. the truthfulness
az the artists report 81 one OF those scenes
with which we are all familiar and which
bring into an art gallery an atmosphere
rs Of the living world. The very feel"
OF the leaves underfoot has got into this
picture. with the faint nip that is In the
air. and that sense 81 leisursly labor. I'M
tinged by sordid laziness. but just rustic
and natural. which you only get when you
watch genuine cOuntryfOlk at task of
this sort- OF course IL is hard work. cut
ting Up a tree. But who wouldn't leap al
the chance. IS a change from the routine
work In the aelds? II is much 10 get into
8 painting the very spirit OF the soil. as
Mr. Hassam has done i'm this instance. but
obviously n is more 10 do this thing and
90 make IL charming 10 enrich the canvas
with color as honest as il is ''fruity. 10
M Il with atmosphere. and 10 throw the
simple motive into fresh and really good
composition. Beautiful. too. is the subtle
adjustment OF tones in this picture. the
unity ~ the work 10 which the painter has
given peculiar depth, carrying the eye far
beyond his two wood choppers. Decidedly
Nitanzed OF more artistic piece OF work
The paintings in the present exhibition
which 80 most appropriately into the same
category with The Old Elm" are pure
landscapes. or landscapes IN wfnch a nude
figure supplies an unoOtrusive detail. Nr.
lIasssur's color grows richer aud Yet finer
a. he goes on. lie still uses a fairly thick
impasto and occasionally this means a dis
turhing effect. not only suggesting hoaNi-
tess Of hand bu; depTiving the spectator OF
much % that sens3Ous charm which il is
tins artists special gift 20 communicate.
The Sirens Grotto." for example, is very
nearly as hard rs thoagh II were a study
81 a mass OF rough agate. But look. on
the other hand. al the young greens in
The bell Early Spring" CT al the sylvan
l0veIiness IN The sunlight Brook and the
Iris Pool" and turn. finally. 10 the soft
Eky and the pure air in the -'Wainscott
LINKS" one does not think here. as one
thinks in looking al two or three other
pictures IN the show, that the artist has
forgotten nature and IL merely knesding
paint one thinks only OF the sweetness
and beauty OF his scenes and OF the origi-
nalty and power with which he has painted
Them. II Is moody work that is 10 be
sfu6i "a m this collection. work sometimes
so fully energized. 50 firmly grasped. and
painted with such unfailing gusto that YOU
would not spare an inch OF IL. Then. I'm
some landscape. Mr.. Hassam Will only be-
guile YOU with a single passage. as in The
sky or 'Bornero HIN, old Lyme" or the
stretch II sea in the background OF the
Naisd.' Here and there. too. as IN The
Green. New Haven" and The Park and
The Plaza or the two figure studies. ne is
altogether unconKincing But in the larger
number OF his pictures on this occasion his
ART II as sklful as II is inspiriting and
delightful.