New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-14
A New Painter from Sweden

An exhibition OF paintings and etch-
ings by Mr.. Helmar Mas one SweH-
ish painter new to America, IS heid IN
the gallery Of the New York School oil
Applied Design for Women. The col
lection Is brought to this country
under the gracious patronage OF MS
royal highness Prince Wllhelm OF
Sweden" and is introduced TO US IN a
foreword to the catalogue written oy
that catholic optlmist Mr.. CHRISTIAN
Brinton. Hemar Mas Ole was born
at Bioren, Dalecarlia, September a.
1884. This exhibition OF his WORK
quite well hung, would seem to De also
quite representative. HIS pencnahC -
tvpically Scandinavian or Northern
showing much evidence OF physical
force Tuegedness of line and rugged
ness Of taste. The subtler QUALITIES
are lost in his climate. The painter
may invent new approaches to the re-
cording Of literal fact, play with the
prescribed language, be casually or su-
perfcially free; but in the end, after
the first shocks-for there are shochs
IN this painting-we find that ne mas
adhered almost rigidly 70 the letter
of the form, constructed his hgures
academically and then tilled them IN
nerfunctorilv, with color. This ia Civ
en- as a general description OF North
ern art and as a general description
cannot stop to note the inevitable and
numerous exceptions to the rule thus
made.
Mr.. Mas Ollie in any case is not one
of the exceptions. II his color is not
perfunctory, then 1t is the reverse OF
perfunctory and used as determined
assault upon the acuter senslollitles
OF a less hardy race. But this may be
triAing. Robbed OF the thorough aea-
demic training which he possesses, ne
might 20 further afeld than he does
and fare worse. His drawing conf
mands a certain respect, and though
there is about it a brazen tendency, a
bold and bland dissemblance Of mys-
terry, OF any rcticence, u ls-partcu-
larry as exemplihed IN the etchings-
the main string connecting his art "itn
life.
Anders Zorn evidently has been the
hero of the manner of his etching. lie
tells US all here, too, without a sus-
picion Of our probabls-powers OF ae-
auction and even less suspicion OF quite
fashionable things that lie beneath the
surface awaiting the rev : 49,
him who would trouble 20 become mt.
mate-all. but with 4 fluent grace OF
manner that beside the rugged brusque-
ness of mis- painted lire becomes very
delightful. The major part If. indeed.
not all. OF the etched subjects are OF
those bathers so often present IN the
plates Of Zorn, and in even greater pro-
fusion with Mas ole, who lend 10 the
summer shores of Sweden brilliant
notes made by their naked bodies. Mas
Ole paints them as they are. with
frankness that keeps pace with theirs
posing them in attitudes they assume
naturally. directing nothing, emitting
little. content with the fact as 1t hap
mems. The "Seaweeds,' two nudes
PLAYING with weeds IN water knee deep
happened perhaps the most fortunately,
although IN others showing women run
ming through wooded bowers the play
of light and shade is recorded with a
quick and apprecistive touch.
Among the paintings - q full length
portrait Of Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree
as Malvolio which out-maneuvres Tree
and, for the matter Of that, Shake
speare himself, in ribaldry Of humor