Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-11-24

battleships in the North sea; the
sailors are seen at their various posts
resentation of a man holding up two
signal flags silhouetted against the
sunset Sly, picture that brings 20
mad NInsiow Homer's virlle paint
ings In fact, these enlarged and col
ored photographs have in many IN
stances real art quality. and now tney
could have been produced through the
mechanical medium OF the Gamers
under the conditions in when t9ey
must have been made is almost m
1t is the British navy which has
played Dig pat winning the va.
possession of the high seas and thus
standing between not only Greas
Britain. but the United States and
those who would ruthlessiy nave de-
Stroyed US.
These photographs give one an
&ntimate insight and sense OF taH!I
arity with the men and with tne snlps
which have performed TINS sIea.
every one should see, and which once
seen will never be forgotten
x *
The special exhibition gallery OF the
Corcoran Gallery of Art is now occupied
by a collection of 1876 sketches in black
and white and color of scenes in the war
zone by seven of the official artists at
the front The work of each of these
artists is hung as a group 1t is posi-
ble therefore, to observe individuality
of viewpoint as well as technique.
The group by George Harding Is par
ticularly virile, and while made up en-
tirely Of sketches of everyday scenes,
gets a hold on the Imagination which
more finished works sometimes fal 10
achieve.
The largest group Of all is by J.
Andre Smith. who has to his credit
no less than eighty drawings, tne ma.
jority in color and tint. These are
mostly architectural themes, pictures
of houses. of towns, of groups OF
buildings. interpreted with the etcher's
accuracy and nicely Of touch.
Capt. Aylward's work is also IN
color. strong and fine, and though he
contributes only fifteen of the 1S6 pic
lures, his contribution is notable.
Capt Ernest Peixotto has to ms
credit forty drawings. finely rendered
scenes in the country through which
our troops have passed.
Other groups are by Capts. Wallace
Morgan, Harry E. Townsend and w.
j. Duncan. each capable, talented ana
. experienced as artist and craftsman
i The chief interest in this collection
, lies in the fact that the drawings
picture scenes in France with which
the American eXpeditionary FORCES
have become familiar. In viewing
these drawings one sees what our
American boys who have gone to
France have seen and are seeing.
We are brought in touch with them
and the life they have been lvlns. as
medium. not excepting photography.
Comparatively few of the DRAWINGS
represent the horrors of warfare
that is. the dramatic horrors-the
death throes of gallant troops. what
they do show are the hardships of the
commonplace. met day by day and
hour by hour, with no glamour to
tighten. and hence hardest to bear.
Some idea is given in these sk1litully
rendered pictures of the discomforts
of camp life behind the trenches. the
roughness of the way. the incalcu-
liable difficulties of the forced march
cs. all of which have been met by
our troops and those of the allies
with heioism which is beyond
oidS.
Vjvidly in ones memory after see
ing this exhibition sta d out pic
ture of an American officers mess in
Thierry. by Capt. Duncan; a picture
entitled His Bunkie"-a soldier
standing by his comrades grave, by
Capt. Awkward; picture of Red c. oSs
ambulances responding to a hurry
call in the Toul sector. by Capt Town
send: picture of Belleau wood by
Capt Smith, showing the thickness of
the growth and the nature of the
ground over which the men passed
in fact, of countless other scenes
made wonderfully vivid through the
artists transcription.
. That these drawings make no haunt
of emotion and are entirely free of
sensational suggestion is to- their
credit and worthy of remark. The
simplicity and frankness with which
the artists have set forth their sew
cral themes are typical of that quiet
determination with which our men
winning the great war for liberty.
For this reason. for their subject
matter and their artistic quality,
these drawings will be found not only
of present but permanent interest
and value.
The Corcoran Gallery will be open
Thanksgiving day from 10 am. to
= pm. for the special benefit of those
who cannot visit it on working days.
1t will also be open as usual this
afternoon from 1 80 to 4:30 pm.
With the ending of the war comes
the resumption of old occupations
and business relations. Already. we
are told. Germany is reaching out to
regain trade. England and France
auQ- u al SAlenL, lteAys uds0 lVOhcu
ahead and are. in a measure, pre-
pared to meet this contingency. 1t is
not a question mercy or regulating
trade, but of quality in production.
This the countries of the old world
well understand. When, some years
ago. Germany resolved to become a
great idustrial nation she turned to
her artists for assistance and estab
y lished schools of industrial art in all
parts of her domain. France needed
neither example nor warning to pro-
vide for her people this kind of in
struction in order to secure quality
in her manufactures; she has always
recog nized the necessity. Great Brit
ain has done more than we have
along these lines, but less than
France Before the war ended, how
sever the British Board of Trade, to-
xether with the board of education,
took steps to formulate scheme to
establ a British institute of in
~ order "fo raise the