The sun., 1913-12-28
Leon Baskt Revolution
in Art Dress and House
Decorations Startling
Color Schemes Show
What Woman Can Do
for Herself in the Way
of a Frame
ny CLAUDE Cilt:RNs.

the subject of the new art. Confer
ences have been given and more than
one course of artistic lectures.
We have been told that the color
schemes of Leon Bakst are the only
ones possible for cultured individuals.
Within the same hour We have been
told that the Ballet Russc wave. which
has swept across Paris, has destroyed
real beauty and opened the way for
cxponents Of merely eccentric claptrap.
Paris, for once. has been bewildered.
She has been asking herself "Is this
genuine revolution in the world Of
art? or Is 1t only Il passing fad, which
will quickly float away, leaving little
trace behind?'
or course Il is not the first time that
raris has been puzzled by the eccen-
iriCitics Of ultramodernists in the art
world. For years back. on and off. there
nave appeared daring spirits who have
refused to Join hands with persons Of
normal or what is called normal. ideas
and ideals. There have always been
those who have stood asidc-with in
tcntlon. But the present revolution
and personally I regard the movement
IN that lights "a much more serious
affair.
! II Is not only insistcnt and well
organized: II is also IA movement which
has arrived at the right moment. People
have been prepared for II. Early last
spring ] had occasion to speak at some
length OF the influence which the
Russian painter and designer Leon
Bskst was having upon the world Of
art in Paris as well as in other great
capitals. And it was not only Bakst
individually: IL was also his work in the
Russian Ballet and the unexpected color
schemes which taat wonderful ballet
has brought into existence.
No one now ventures to snccr AT the
futursts, or even at the cublsts. for
although Bakst is neither futurist
nor Cubist his peculiar art is closely
allied to these schools. One thing is
quite certain. he 1. a master where
strong colors are concerned lie under
stands better than any other living
man how 10 handle these colors. how
IA combine them. how to fling together
y.e most unexpected tints Above all
re understands how to use with iiendish
SKIN broad spashes of black and dead
white
In short, he Is the man who has
~
and that his influence Is no mere pass.
in. AFFAIR is gradually becoming real
.Gcd at least in Paris. At the present
salon dAutomne We find proofs of a
genuine. permanent revolution on all
SIDES. We are at the beginning of a
new era where house decorations and
mural arts are concerned. This is an
interesting fact.
a. 4,
minded again that | am fervent ad-
vocate of individuality. especially in
women This is a gospel which preach
IN season and out. | do 50 because |
believe that individuality of thought.
word and action Is the most important
affair in the world. without indvid-
uality We are worse than sheep. for even
The most conventional among us have
some instinct that teaches the fact that
character and temperament differ. as do
features. AS an indvidualist | take
special pleasure in the Leon Bakst revo-
luton. for the new color schemes are
So strange, often so unrestful, that they
must he treated individually. otherwise
they become merely ridiculous That is
to say, they must be studied and in
close connection with the individual
connected with them.
Though many of the snecimen suitos
of rooms exhibited at the Salon dan.
Tonne are startling and unrestrul 10 an
.xaggera.ed point. they are almost all
Instructive: there Is hardly one which
fails to show what an intelligent woman
of even ordinary means might do for
herself in the way Of a frame. There
are sombre. majestic, reception rooms
N which sultry reds, blues and greens
sand out from dead white backgrounds,
where subtle touches OF dull copper are
supplied by embroidered cushions and
where strong lights are shaded behind
rived plaques OF semi-transparent
lade.
one could see at glance how mag
h'hcent, superb. beautiful woman OF
oead whlte skin ana red sold hair might
''"h III such a salon. Her traiiing rome
~. sHS'ehihs jet "ouio give spiehoiu
'"''t "S she stoou asaIhs' the ueau
wa" W." 40 ueep i''. uS ''NHe'
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