The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-06
LOAN EXHIBITION
IN AIDOF SUFFRAGE
Behind the Scenes Types
shown To-day With Miss
CasSatt's Work.
1NPRESSlONIST WORKS

To rrimal cause Of an event in some
times lost IA the Importance OF the event
Islf The public owes the exhibition
Of masterpieces or art by Edgar Desas
and Miss Mary Cassatt. which are TO
be shown at private view In the
Knocdlcr Galleries to-day. and to the
public tomorrow. to the fact that Miss
Cassitt is an ardent suffragist.
These wonderful pictures. which have
been admired so much for years in pri-
yatc American collections. are now to be
shown for the benefit OF the suffrage
campaign of 1915. incidentally Miss
Cassl,t. who already is famous in both
remsphcrcs as an artist. acquired even
a greater fame. and the Degas pictures
vii. create so much comment of an
artistic nature that for the moment the
oucs,!un Of votes for women will be
Ielegatod to the background. although
undoubtedly the purse for "the cause"
will be plcntifully filled before the exhi-
bItiou has run its course.
Miss Cassatt has sent several of her
recent works to this country especially
Tor this exhibition. There also is one
charming picture of an old lady at a
Tea table. painted years ago but never
shown anywhere until last summer.
when it created a sensation In a retro
spec'ivc show OF Miss Cassatt's work IN
Paris The present show is complete
enough to be also almost RETROSPECT
tive II will be revelation to our
young artists and a surprise to elderly
enthusiasts for the impressionist school.
for IL clearly reveals the important place
that Miss Cassatt has gained as an
artist
These enthusiasts recognized merit
In her work. OF course, years ago, upon
rs first appearance, but at that time
when "impresslonism' was taboo, the
great excitement centred in the violent
disputes over Manet. and until the
cause for Manet was lost or won every
other point in regard to the movement
was held in allegiance. When the bat
tie was over and 1mpressionism victo-
rous every one awakened suddenly 10
the fact that all of these much dis
cussed pictures had vanished into pri-
yate collections and were no longer ac-
cesshle 10 the public. 1t is to be feared
that a whole generation OF students have
grown Up who are unaware OF the slim
dating effect OF these great works Of
art that deal with questions of con-
temporary life.
Now that one no longer thinks OF the
Cassatt-the impressionistic technique
being thoroughly understood by every
body--the public will be surprised at the
vitality of her work. The method. II
appears was only a mere starting point
ioT Miss Cassatt. life and sympathy
with life being the objective point. And
20 far from being "A clever disciple OF
ne great Manet and the great Degas. it
row appears that she Is great in her own
r-ht and that she has obtained a wide
field Of her own. To paint children with
more sympathy and the joys of mother
.1od nor, ;endcrly would be impossible.
tn tw,niy-three works by Degas on
view are an of the very first rank. That
$ 10 say. that they suggest life so CON-
petey thai the longer they are studied
lie more battling they become, for the
.ecrct as 20 how the effects are obtained
emdinS a mystery. Most of them deal
With subjects taken from the ballet. and
We here see the hard working Partisan
'-llet girl behind the scenes.
To attempt TO single out especial can
Asses for comment is almost waste OF
inc, for all are masterpieces. The pastel
u TWO girls, both of the ballet, called
Waiting" grows in haunting sugges-
on with the years. They are seated
IDon a bench in bare corridor OF tho
aeat,e one in street dress. sombre. de-
pressed. the other In tights and gauze
SKIRTS, bending 10 feel her tired and dis
'or'ed ankles The picture a. uGi,e
Tlgic. How the artist achieves 1t one
annot understand. hut with the simplest
arrangement OF drawing ne forces you
o Try 10 read the minds of the two girls
and battles YOU in a different way from
leonardo with his Mona Lisa. but Just
as completely.
l. is due 10 the greatness Of the SYM
1a,hy hat Degas compcls you to feel
'r his subject, that there is no sense OF
eecency outraged In the juxtaposition
nat '- seen in this exhibition, of pallet
girls with the sacredness Of Miss Cas-
sd,ts pictures of Maternity. II becomes
ute patent even to the careless OBJ
server that life in all of Its forms Is
sacred TO the serious artist.
BEGINNING Tomorrow 81 admission
vi 10 charged, as has been explained,
''r ~" benefit Of the suffrage campaign
At To-day ; FIRST view s. will be charged.
I'd At p. NJ. Mrs. II. Q. Havemeyer
u make brief address upon the sub
fe. Of 'Degas and Miss Cassatt' In the
srou7 Of old masters that also are being
Gown n" famous "Gilder" OF Rem