The sun., 1919-11-02
BY HENRY Mcbride.
ME excitements of the

Knoedler Galleries. There are |
10 be seen some most curious sculp- |
tures by Ellie Nadelmth, a collection of
tserious" drawings by Boardman Rob-
tnson and a roomful of modern paint |
tngs headed by an important Gauguin.
All three exhibitions are certain to be
talked about, so 1t behooves all those
who like to join in the conversation
20 see these shows at once.
: Over the Ellie Nadelman sculptures
there will be much wagging OF wise
heads. Not one Of them. for instance,
could possibly be accepted by an
academy jury, nor could they be re-
ceived by the Metropolitan Museum,
pet they represent an immense knowl-
edge Of form upon the part of the
sculptor who made them and have a
masterful playfulness in the execution
that could be equalled by no other
sculptor at present in America.
The play quality in them is what
will cause the trouble. Although we
Americans are supposed to have a
great thirst for humor, I don't expect
much immediate appreciation for Mr..
Nadelman's new things, for they are
\ at once too new and too old in manner,
too fiippant and too austere, too much
Broadway and too much medieval
Florence. Mr.. Nadelman is George NJ
Cohan and Giotto In one-a difficult
combination even for the present
writer, who knows Mr.. Cohan only by
newspaper report. The Baroness de
Meyer, however, tells me she con-
siders him one Of the most interesting
artists upon the American stage, just
ms another Of our foreign visitors as
sured me that the most racy and
pithy literature in this country at
present appears in the baseball secs
tions Of the daily press. However
that may be, 1t certainly is the part of
discretion to listen with the greatest
respect to foreign criticism and to
avoid above all things getting "het up"
Did we not ourselves tell the Japanese
that their despised Hokusai was a
master? Did not the English compel
us by brute force into a belated ac-
ceptance Of our only Walt? Not
that 1t Is necessary to rush at once
to one Of Mr.. Cohan's reviews-there
probably is one somewhere about town
I'm order to verify Mr.. Nadelman's
facts. AS critic / am not especially
keen on facts" and besides already
know that the young persons of the
musical stage go in rather moro for
hats than for costumes and that tightly
laced plump ladies sometimes present
droll effects to the eye when in a
sitting posture. One doesn't have to
be foreigner to have observed those
~facts."
No, I prefer to take Mr.. Nadelman
from the Giotto side at present, es-
pecially as 1 am apt to be alone In
viewing him from that point, and II
is always rather fun to be a prophet
At the private view on Monday there
were audible filters from a group
made up Of the types that are always
saying: II don't know much about
art. but do like J. Francis Muir
phys" So 1t appears that some mis-
sionary work for Mr.. Nadelman is
necessary. These very people would
litter at Giotto himself, and for the
same reason-an insensibility to style
1t took a Ruskin to make a former
generation stop laughing at Giotto, bu,
who can hush the feeble minded of to-
day?
So as boldly as possible I must in
sist that these sculptures now on view
at Knoedler's are the most interestinl
pieces that this artist has as yet called
upon US to consider. He has beer
pretty widely hailed already as {
clever man, and his animal group,
and portraits have had a success botf
lucrative and fashionable. The ay
erage human being who comes to thes,
shores is usually content with q sue
cess that is lucrative, but Mr.. Nadel
man, 1t seems, Is not average. H,
must love money somewhat, since h,
has done for fashion so much of tn,
sort Of thing fashion pays for. yet 4
appears that he also values his owl
soul, and Is ever willing to risk hi
money for it. Fashion makes an
fashion rends. Fashion is as uncer
tain as the east wind. 1t was no un
courageous thing upon Mr.. Nadel
mans part, therefore, floating alonI
upon the full tide of popular favor, t
1eopardize his fortune in this way witt
. collection of sculptures that, like a
not. society will consider an insult t
Its intelligence. And when once so
cfety has been wounded in its intel
iigence the Jig is up: It no longe
pays Possibly, and do devoutl
hopo II, hr. NduelmAn mas alread
taken up residence on Easy street
In that case we need not worry. H
can continue analyzing Broadway an
his soul to his hearts content, and,
hope. with as Giottoesque strokes a
he commands at present.
The above is a good ending" phrase
and usually when come to the en-
stop, but as 1 really am Mr.. Navel
mans friend and well wisher I hat
10 leave him with what might appea
10 the suspicious as an insinuatio
that his career in America has bee
two faced. Quite the contrary. Every
thing that Mr.. Nadelman has done ha
been open and above board. But
Is clear that there are two spirits tfc
struggle within him, and IL appear
now that his own particular pet spirI
ID the one that he has had to pla
father and mother and admiring aunt
20 all by his lone self. It was in evi
dence, this spirit. In Mr.. Nadelman
wv A kITEn