New-York tribune., 1920-04-04

true gift is offered by Mr c. A. Platt.
He did some remarkable plates in the
old days, after he had assimilated Mr..
Parrish's instruction. There Is an
etching here, "The Schooner" to show
with what natural skill he attacked
his Gloucester Subjects For years
since he has been absorbed in archi-
lecture, but now, in q recent plate
THE Mountain,' he not only uses his
former ability but improves upon it,
In this charmingly composed etching
in which the difficult problem present
ed by mountainous bulk is beautifully
handled. we are especially impressed
by the etcher's management Of line as
line. He expresses his effect with an
instructive application Of an intensely
exacting idiom. To instinct there has
been added. in his case, long expert
ence, 1t gives him, Of course, a great
advantage over many of his colleagues
in the show. They might rightly ask
for odds and protest that a veteran
should not set the pace. 1t is reason
able point, yet it must be remembered
the way and supplies Us. after al, with
a legitimate touchstone. Turning over
quantities Of these prints ts-fortunately
accessible before their transference to
the wall in frames-we have closely
scrutinlzed them for one quality above
Ill +n1-o
ity, the quality that spells an enchant-
ing artistic language, and this is where
our tendency to qualify begins. There
are plates-often architectural in sub
ject-which are unmistakably etched.
Some Of them are made by Mr.. Earl
Horter Others are due to Mr.. Lester
Hornby, and there is one print Of
some charming old timbered houses
IN which Mr.. J T. Arms wakes pie sant
memories Of Herbert Railton's clever
sketches and attracts Us INTO the bar
gain by cleverness Of his own. We
note also some deft etchings by Mr..
H. B. Shope, and among the artists who
deal with the figure it is good TO see
Mr.. John Sloan The latter uses too
many superfuous lines, but in those
that really count he has personal
s.vle. His work Is full Of character.
There is too little like it in the show.
For one etcher Ike Mr.. Sloan, or like
Mr.. HAYES Miller, who has something
% say and persuasive way Of saying
t. there are dozen whose plates are
os what we can only describe as q
color!ess nature. In other words, there
are broad tracts Of The exhibition IN
which American etching is not revived
in the sense OF being given new
Growth. but is played with in such wise
as to excite only the mildest hopes. 1t
il not that the work in these tracts IS
wholly negligible. On the contrary, II
has again and again engaging quail
ties. Mr.. Nassam is interesting, MISS
Anne Goldthwaite's street scenes are
rood There is decidedly brisk, ami
-na+ca touch in the etchings OF Mr., ".
lew and Mr. Walter Title. For a
,oonoen4 we wonder e we have not
come upon an altogether fresh, original
-a1ent in the art Of Mr. W Reindel,
especially in his amusing though not
sufficiently generalized sketch OF an
orchestra. The trouble IS that none o.
these things discloses strong enough
oersonality or rich enough style
We defer. for the moment, comment
upon the engravers and hthographers
nending visit to the show m us tlnaI
form. But our purpose to-day has, to
be sure, kept only the etchers in view
They arc embarked upon an enterprise
Of verv considerable Importance
whether they intend TO do so or not
-hev challenge the past. Il is certainly
their opportunity to reestaoilSn 'he
claims Of American etching. We have
alrendy men enough among those
cited above and among others who
r,;ch+ be named to feel that our school
bas future. Yet it would be idle tc
asser. that tho status Of the school ia
-