The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-30

~ Rome, Munich and other Euro
pean art centres when the
great wal broke out. Now almost all
Of them are back again in their "
country.
Because of their return to their ma
tive land the war in Europe may have
a marked effect on American paint
ing. or even keener interest to the
general public. to those who know and
cherish their New York. is the pros
pect that there will grow up here, on
the island Of Manhattan. a Latin quar-
ter distinctive In itself, living its own
life to "A large extent. hut having AN
individual atmosphere differing from
that OF the Paris Latin quarter.
True, there has been no organized
movement yet to develop a Latin quar-
ter, and even IL there should lie such
an attempt II probably would fail. for
a real Latin quarter must be born. no:
made: born. that is. Of circumstances,
conditions, the natural grouping to-
cether of kindred spirits. and devel-
oped through "A process of natural
evolution. Like Topsy your colony OF
real artists and art students grows into
being without thinking or reasoning
b the why's and wherefores. Thus
far the returned students are largely
scattered over the city-having due r.
gard. that is, for u few special neigh.
borhoods such az Washington Square
and MaCduugal Alley. t;ramercy Park
and some centres further uptown. the
Sixty-seventh street studio buildings.
for instance. Little 10y little the young
painter folk may unconsciously grl,i
tate toward onc or another locality,
and II Is not impossible that In future
New York yet may nay its " par
ticular Latin quarter.
Jonas Lie was speaking OF this mat
ter the other day in his FIT. fifth
street studio. and of other things in
connection with the return of the ma.
tive-that is. the native art student
who has been AVA and whcun tn,
war has driven home again.
Il think" he said. that IA good man,
of them are just beginning to ,ealiz,
that they are back here in America
probably To stay. one indication 81
the numbers who have returned wa.
seen IN the Academy exhibiticn JUS
ended. where At least one-third more u
paintings n sculptures by American,
were admitted than has leen usual
do not think that the quality Of tn
work varied very much from thai seei
In recent years, but | was struck b.
the increased number of American OK
h.bitors.
Yes, one runs into returned artist
and students all over town. Mac
Monnies " here now, although | ar
rot sure low long he will stay. An
! imagine that a good man! II III
men have had somewhat III
same experience as Truman Fasse'
OF E.mira. who had to come back he
cause ~ war conditions. although
understand that u considerable pa
Of his Paris studio expenses run rich
along f'asrtit patur7t ~ feels diSdt
pointed at hsVing Ia eat short m
work he was engaged on n l"a\
Paris. hut ! feel tina; he j. Just =
well N. teCaus" the work "A man do'
in art does not depend ON the counir
he lives in: II depends N the ma
himself. Aad in this aspect my zee
ing regardGg ftr~"tt applies 10 u
average young man or Young Woma
who lar had to come back here fro
Europe.
There are certain inherited trad
tions, for example, that in are ma
America for Americans, as France f
F%renchmen. In many 80 instan
this inheritance Of tradition has cor
down through generations, Il l.
spiri, native TO tho land. to the soil,
,hn .stSs sf,p,ts IA Tho very HtnlD
pheve Americans breathe. And in II
belief i, is a very precious heritage
preserve in art, which should be d
tinctive, not initiative of the art
other lands.
For art does not depend on &c
rraphica. lines, hut grows out of GO
tact with the spirit. ! do not me
that artists should not travel and stu
abroad. gaining In knowledge a
breadth of vision as q whole. Yet I
fact remains that in this country
have established schools ~ mu
stronger than We're the schools
twenty-five years < that to-day I
students do not need the Fren
schools AS they formerly did.
zone effect this war Will W
American painters. | hope, will he Il
IN ScnulnH nome tHt men WIN "
living abroad before the wal broke
we may in time establish "A more
cral school. not only so far AS art IFS
il concerned, but also in h und
standing and appreciation OF the ~
lie. The greatest sin ~ America
day is that OF conventona!ity.
painters, SCulptors, poets, comp
ers for some reason seem afraid to
themselves, 10 strike out ON orlgli
untried lines. They hesitate 10 do I
or that Of their own volition. )
one consequence is that we are s
initiative.
THE mass Of our people are J
beginning 10 realize that art Is
a means Of reproduction OF the r
ural object. hut hat IT is "A form
EXPRESSION seen through the indi'
uality of the painter. This applies
cidedly to literature and also to mu
but in music we're more ready to
ccpt it.
"in painting vi are not willing
accept "A picture that il beautiful
itself. The public. with the exceptio
the elect want something, az n r
that it can fully grasp, FUZZY un'
stand. and upon which 1t thereI
thinks itself competent to pass I
now Turner story comes to mi
his answer to "A woman who oxclair
i never saw a sunset like that