Evening star., 1920-02-29

The print division of the Library of
Congress has just set forth most
engaging exhibition OF recent acces-
sSons - etchinEs, engravings. litho-
graphs. etc The etchings alone num-
Der over 400. all of which have been
acquired by purchase within the past
two years. These are set forth in
cases in the great south hall leading
from the southwest pavilion to the
art reading room.
The first section is made up entire
1y of works by French etchers; the
second section is arranged alpha
bcticaily by the names of the etchers
rather than with regard to national
1ty.
The French section in turn shows
alphabetical arrangement rather than
recognizing the period in which the
etcher lived or the rank held. The
exhibit opens with a group of eight
or more prints by Appian. who is
followed successfully by Bejot, Brac-
Quemond. Buhout and others. Each
print has been selected for not mere
ly in its rarity, but its artistic quality
and interest and the collection as a
whole offers a vertable feast to the
ART lover.
To those who have astute judg-
mcnt and good taste the collecting of
etchings is not only a delightful
pastime. but a profitable hobby. For
example, an etching by Zorn which
could be purchased five years ago for
about $500 sells now for over $4,000;
etchings by Whistler. which when is
sued were within the purchase power
Of those of extremely modest means,
are bringing in the auction room to-
day from $1,000 to $4,000. But the
purchaser must have knowledge of
what constitutes real value in an
etching This is something which is
more instructive than to be learned.
Certainly il is neither subject nor
size. but rather that subtle elusive
quality which for lack of a better
name is simply called '.art'-the abil-
ity to make line significant and to
eliminate all non-essentials. And yet
some of the etchings in this exhl-
bition. and some which are most
highly esteemed. are elaborate both
in composition and treatment And
so It is shown that no definite law
can be laid down as measure OF
merit; that again one must return to
what Saint Gaudens Is reputed to have
satd-that cit is not what you do. but
the way You do it which makes work
Of art"
The Bracquemond etchings in this
exhibition are peculiarly attractive.
including portraits of Erasmus. Le-
gros. Manet and other distinguished
persons, landscapes and also wild
fowls. These last call to mind our
American painter-etcher. Benson's,
works, though they are very dis
similar in style.
this collection by Corot-"A Souve-
mir of Italy; Daubigny. "A Subtle
French Landscape" and by Jacque.
Chiefly Sheep" Lalanne is well rep
resented. There are portraits by
painter. There is Millet. Manet.
Meryon. a THermitte. There are
quite a number by Charles Heyman.
cotemporary etcher. who has set
forth such subjects as railway yards,
traffic. street scenes nd the like
pictures of today. There is delight
full etching of Chartre Cathedral by
Lehautre. SO much for the French
section.
The international section exhibits
to best advantage works by our own
etchers and by the etchers of
Great Britain. Among the latter
Katherine Cameron, a sister of the
great Scotch etcher. is most gener-
ously represented by large group OF
etchings of flowers. which she reH-
ders with inimitable skill. and of
Scotch landscapes. which she like
wise interprets sympathetically. Ex-
were shown last year both at the
Corcoran gallery and- the Dayton gall
1ery, and her work has many admir-
ers in this city.
treQ Burrl0ge, James SCv, LOT
othy Woodland and Frank Short are
other Britishers well represented.
Among the American etchers spe-
cial note should be made of the etch-
ings by Benson, two of which are Of
wild geese and two Of interesting
body Museum.
Troy Kinney is represented by an
etching of dancers. delightfully."- rem
dered. In recent years he has male
.-lx 80 ,,L ,v,I I, IaI
in transcribing through this medium
the beauty of rhythm and bouyancy in
the dance.
william Auerbach Levy scores ex-
ceptionally we'll in his charactoriza-
tions of types, his "Old Rabbi being
particularly fine. but perhaps no bet
ter than some of the other figure
studies by which he is represented
Joseph ,Pennell, who in recent
years has met with notable success
as a photographer. interpreting THE
Wonder of Work." is shown at his
best as an etcher in two or three
architectural themes found in the
old world. one of cathedral another
of a lovely old street in Rouen.
Some additional plates by Charles
Platt have been found worthy of in
clusion.
There is a print society. made mp
Of England. which. in a little circu-
lar just issued, advocates as follows the
collecting of prints:
We all collect something-old fur
niture, china, pewter and brass
stamps-even bank notes.
Now old furniture takes up much
space, porcelain and china break.
pewter and brass want constant
cleaning, stamps have a way Of losing
themselves. bank notes are expensive
and not easily come by.
why not collect something un-
breakable, something portable. that
you can take about with you and
enjoy when away from home-some-
thing within reach of even small
purse? Why not collect something
beautiful, something that will make
your home more attractive, that will
give unceasing pleasure to you and
your friends. something that Incl
dent1Ily increases in value? Why
not mako your hobby pay?
In q word-why not collect etch-
fnEs?
These are good arguments, and
when II IL known that good etchings
can be had for as little as SO the
wender is that there are not more
today eager to become through this
channel patrons Of the arts.
Eress shows the possibilities in this
delightful field.
The National Gallery has lately re-
cefved az a gift an extremely inter-
esting and handsome portrait of
lady by Anders Zorn. the Scandina-
Vian artist 1t represents a young
1yorraM oF nephans ftVentv-fiye wears