The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-03
Village Street." by Kandinsky.

less We stubbornly .eslst the attempt
in Western art.
Cubists have set themselves hard
task. 1t is good deal easier To sing
an emotion than paint one. 1t is a
good deal easier to paint an object than
sing one-therein lies the trouble.
Yet in the beginning both music and
painting were initiative. Music mi-
tated natural sounds; drawing and
painting initiated natural objects.
But soon men began to sing for the
pleasure of singing and play on instru-
mentS for the pleasure Of playing, and
the imitation of natural sounds was
left far behind as primitive and elc-
mental, and music tended to become
more and more expressive of emotions
elemental emotions at first, finer and
purer emotions later, until in the west
ern world abstract purity was reached
in Beethoven.
Since Beethoven there has been a
reaction to more initiative music, as in
the operas OF Wagner.
While music departed further and
further from imitation of natural
sounds. drawing and painting pro-
crossed toward the more perfect repre-
sentation of natural objects.
When a man stands before "A Cubist
painting or an improv isation by Kan
dlnsky and says h. secs all sorts Of
things in II. do not take him too Sc
riOusly; he is like members Of those
extraordinary Browning clubs who de-
stroy our enjoyment Of the poetry by
reading into each line things the poet
never dreamed
The Cub.sts and most If the modcrns
are very young men. what they think
is Of far less interest than what they
do.
What a young man does = often of
vial importance, what he thinks may
be IF no Importance at all-save To
himself
Moved by the most naive theories
and enthus!asms youth Will do wonder
full things-things the sober reflection
of age would fear to do.
one Of the charms Of the Cubists
is their chidlike faith in the absolute
supremacy Of their art: this faith is
interesting in them because it leads
them to produce works that cause us
to stop and look and think. But when
their followers indulge the same blind
faith in print their utteranCes are
mostly incoherent and boresome.
Inc NIpItHl par NiShH VIM St'N an
sorts of things in the modern painting
is at one extreme. the violent oppo-
nent who sees nothing at all is at the
other-let them fight il out
The truth lies midway, that there Is
something worth finding in even the
most extravagant attempts of the new
movement no thoughtful man will deny.
The very fact the paintings attract such
sr 10 sn IN va rfsL
proves there is something for serious
Investigation: the something may not
turn out To be of overwhelming i'm.
portance. but it VIII have its influence
upon the future of art.
No one for a moment doubts that the
exhibitions held in New York. Chicago
and Boston are destined to have very
great effect upon American art. es-
| poCially upon the art Of the men most
bitterly opposed to Cublsm and every
thing akin to Cuhsm. The academic
has received severe but healthful jolt.
Whatever affects us has, at least, the
| merit of affecting US, and whatever
moves us To do better work. whether IN
an old way or new way, has the
merit of affecting us for good.
, 1t Is worth noting in passing that the
|
many pictures will be bought for offices
as for homes. and fewer and fewer Will
he bought for those graveyards Of art
private galleries.
why should men buy pictures and
| hang them where they are seldom
/ seen. often in places where the light
is So bad they cannot he seem
Where do most men spend most OF
their time? In their places Of bus!-
ness. Then why not make their places
of business attractive and liVahlc?
Every man knows how relaxing and
delightful it would he if in the m DIST
of busy afternoon he could drop hus.-
ness for "A moment and read an inter
. csting book or listen to some good
music. Wen, we can't do that; it takes
too long to get into book, and music
| is not at hand.
But We can turn from our desks and
in "A second lose ourselves in the con-
| temptation Of a beautiful picture,
The physician covers the walls OF
his office with prints of such pictures
as Rcmbrandt'e Lesson in Anatomy
Ugh,
The lawyer covers the walls Of hi'
office with dusty law books, Whcw'
The manufacturer covers In" walls
nf his office with prints of factories
M, hucry, goods, Sc shop shop
| shop.
No relief anywhere for man, patient
| client or customer.
Tired eyes that seek rest in change
are met with the same old story-re
Elections of the daily grind,
Speaking from experience, I can sa.
that next to getting out of an Office
for "A brief respite. the contemplation