Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-25

4 group of Autographs and wash
drawings by Thornton Oakley of
Philadelphia is now on exhibition in
the atrium of the Corcoran Gallery
Of Art. The group consists chiefly
az drawings made in charcoal, for
photographic reproduction, of the
great federal shipbui.ding works at
Hog Island. These were done during
the war and were for the most part
adopted by The United States gov
eminent for its foreign news service
They give vivid pictures OF one OF
the greatest industrial achievements
of the age, and they possess more
6eauty than one would naturally ex-
pect.
Thornton Oakley like Joseph PEN
nell. has found and made patent
beauty in 'the wonder of work" in
those things which speak of our CO.
temporary enterprise and which re-
fleet contemporary effort. The Wool
worth building. New York, is not
beautiful because it is big. but be-
cause of it's design: railroad yard
IS not interesting on account of being
scene of activity. but on account
of it's lights and shadows. its wells
of smoke. it's suggestion of power
and promise. In the same way the
enormous shipyards at Hog Island
are Impressive. because of the things
TO interpret these suggestions the
artist has chosen pictorial viewpoints.
Thornton Oakley is primarily an
illustrator. for. while he delights in
beauty in color and form-that Is.
sheer. unrelated beauty-he gives
first place in his art to intellectual
appeal
Writing on the subject of iIlustra-
ton short time ago, he said: ITO
the average mind. which has not
zion consists of drawings chiefly
black and white. done primarily, with
commercial ends in view, for repro
duction: or, perhaps. the same mind
thinks of tests or stories in popu
lar periodicals to accompany which
drawings are Misunderstanding. likely
- not. merely of heads or more
probably. fnll-length figures of men
and girls in evening dress sitting
mon sofas in the various attitudes
IS fortunate. indeed. that such a con-
"option of illustration is so wide
spread,
What is illustration? Let US look
az the word itself. 1t means max
ing clear. 1t says nothing of me-
diums. nothing of publications. moth
ing of reproductions. 4 making
Clear-that is illustration. That, in
deed. is art.
Broadly speaking. all pictures may
he divided into two classes. those
/. whose purpose is to delight the eye.
SId those whose purpose is to de-
light the mind True Illustration lies
in the latter group. I have no quar-
rel with the first class. 1t has its
purpose. but the latter is supremacy
great. 1t lives when the other dies:
speaks TO millions. the other speaks
to few. With its dreams and visions
II thrills mankind. leads ever on to-
ward the star
Touching more intimately the art
rad its opportunity today. ne has
further said: The greatest question
of the age IS now confronting man
There has been no moment in history
more fraught with possibilities. All
nations of the earth are tense with
hope. with expectation. with passion
ate desires All have visions and
idcaIs = Man has harnesSed mat
tor aud is breaking down the bar
I,crS between nations. He spreads his
webs of iron from shore TO shore
pgovs the decps with mighty Ships.
|, connects the continents, the races.
= with airplaHeS. liners, telephones
wireless and ocean cables. And as ne
builds his railroads, ships. man ms
th.. heavens with his message his
t,yyer.- cleaye the sky. His buildings
loom. his cranes ride against the
clouds His scafoidings rear eaun'
networks His furnaces Hing name
INTO the night locomotives thunder,
..acrs yomit smoke. steam Kisses.
counts in boiling pillows. The Earos
II sbipWays mills of vast INDUSTRIAL
kIants resound with roar OF labor,
'Tnrou.h industrial gates the multi
tudes pour, Is not tins the spir!t OF
An,erica work aud the brother
hood Of man What subjects Tor the
.~tfst, What chance 10 express the
l1rposs and the meaning Of men
Ives :,
"a or less highly gifted. what he
has 10 say would not be so SiSnih-
mt hut he speaks through the me-
J;um Of his art equally well ana
wildly. ,a p,,e
he VAS n pupil OF HoWarn .sLe'
<,catc&t OF all American illustrators:
: man with 4 genius for teaching ana
80, p.ssinp on TO his pupils not onIN
- arr knowledge, but his high ana
.,.:iriotic ideals. After studying WIN
- pyle Mr. Oakley took courses III
r.hitectnre and the sciences 81 the
ntvcrEity of Pennsylranta. troy
/. hich he holds degrees. and he mas
,nself been y teacher for some years
.s tho Pennsylvania Museum Schooi
Industrial Art.
IucIuded in to- exhibition now on
" are two wash drawings made IN
.,atn on a trip 10 that country the
-4ar before the var. Ooth extremely
-aracteristic and engaslngly novel
sur similar in character % iong
RIGS Of illustrative drawings made
IN years ago by Mr.. Oakley on a
rrnorablc Journey around the world
:, h. ch were published in our foremost
1gazines
,Tnere is also In this exhibition a
- Iograph of the beach at Atlantic
''.-y, Ia which are contrasted the null
indies of pleasure seekers and the
{ eat bulk OF the hotel buildings
l,a3Ch tower above and beyond 1t Is