The Washington times., 1919-03-09
CAMERON'S SISTER
BRILLIANT ETCHER

All OF the print world, that is, the
dealers, collectors and Iovers Of prints
generally, are familiar with the work
of D. Y. Cameron, the distinguished
Scotchman, whose etchings are to be
seen in important collections through
out the world, but comparatively few
people on this side of the Atlantic
know that he has a sister, Miss Kaths
crime Cameron, who is one of the fore
most artists in the same medium.
Possibly her desire not to shine by
reflected light may have prevented
her from making any effort to become
better known in this country, even as
| the "sister Of d. Y. Cameron" But
her own light now shines brightly.
The appearance of a collection Of
Miss Cameron's etchings in Washing
ton is an event that will be appre-
ciated by discriminating art lovers.
A few years ago, about three or four,
some one brought a few Of her etch-
| ings from Scotland. In October, 1913,
Mr. Dayton, who saw them. wrote ask
ing for a complete set Of all that she
had made. In response, Miss Cameron
said that il would be necessary for
her to buy many of them herself from
and England, as three-fourths of them
were out Of print. She obtained as
many as possible, and on their arrival
fifty of them were sold at once, before
they even were matted.
Miss Cameron did not begin to etch
to any great extent until 1900, and has
only made about forty plates, but they
show a perfection of technique and a
thorough understanding OF the meth
DDS which she had already displayed
in her illustrations OF many books.
Does Own Printing.
She does her own printing, making
only from twenty to forty impress
sions. Flowers, butterflies, bees,
thistIes-airy, fairy subjects-have
been her favorites.
1t is impossible to describe the per-
fection and delicacy of her butter
fiies' wings, the fluffy softness of tie
thistledown, or the pale outline of
the thorn blossoms. The titles alone
of some of her prints suggest sum-
mer and the dainty bits of nature
that she has studied with such care
and sympathy. The Tryst," Bees
and Blossoms" "Honeysuckle." wild
Violets," "Dandelion" and Thistle
down"
In The Tryst," bees with fuzzy
bodies and lowering wings are poised
over a spray OF peach blooms. Tue
'Dandelion" is only its ghost, the
tiny white petals scarcely held On
the slender stem, some of the winged
seeds are floating off. Two perfect
butterflies futter about.
sarho 81
lovely rose on a long stem with bud
and leaves. From one of it's petals
a fat, little fairy seems to have been
turned out "Good-by Summer" is a
single stalk OF wild asters. Tortoise
shell Butterflies" one of the most eX-
ouisite prints of the collection, is
simply a long branch of blackthorn,
with punches Of the pale flowers, owe:
which two perfect butterflies swing
and flap their wings.
Has Etched Landscapes,
Miss Cameron has etched a num-
ber of landscapes of the rather bleak
Scotch scenery that suggest the
small plates Of her countryman,
Muirhead Bone. "Corfe Castle" desc
late in the unduIating plain, and
'Moorland Farm" a group of smeII
houses at the foot of family outlined
hills, are among the most interesting.
You feel the shifting changes of light
and shade and her intimate acouaint-
ance with the strange beauty Of her
Highland country.
There are several charming crayon
and chalk drawings of flowers in
delicate cOlOrs. which show the art
lists skill ins other mediums The list
of books that she has illustrated is a
long one and her original style adapts
itself readily to "The Enchanted
Land" Water Babies" "Aucassin and
"Undine," and The Flow
ers Love-"
As draughtsman Miss Cameron
seems to have surmounted all difficult |
ties. One Is quite unconscious OF ]