New-York tribune., 1921-03-20
Art Made Readable
G. Lewis Hind Sugarcoats
Much Learning

Much Learning
ART AND I. BY c. Lewis Hind Pub
lished by John Lane Company.
~ CONVERSATIONAL essays, per
Ia sonal in tone and with no .sug.
gestion of didacticism, offer one
of the most telling methods of captur.
ing readers. In Art and I Mr.. Hind
gives deal of personal opinion and
feeling. He shows a knowledge and
understanding Of his subject. His
manner is frank, and although sophis-
ticated, he does not forget that even
the most timid of his readers are in
dividuals with their own opinions.
The divisions Of Art and / are The
Art of To-day, The Art of Tomorrow
The Art of Yesterday and Art and Mr.
x. Each chapter is an essay or de-
scription of an incident, complete in
itself, with sort of O. Henry twist
in most cases.
Scraps of conversation heard at ex-
hibitions, discussions of the lighter
sort among artists and their friends
observations suggested by solitary
walks in out-of-the-way places, these
are the media through which Mr.. Hind
expresses his opinions and his an
alyses Of various schools. The atti.
tude is personal, more or less authori-
tatiye and at the same time easy
natural, human. Art and I suggests
itself as an excellent book for the mi.
tiation of persons who desire to read
and study art and are afraid there
may be prosiness and too much sophis-
tication in art books,
In dealing with the Art Of Tomorrow
MIR. Hind expresses his hopes and
ideals for the future. He explains the
possibilities Of the new school, and is
particularly appreciative of the men
who have led in the work. Cezanne,
Van Gogh, Gauguin, Georges Seurat
Picasso and Matisse indicated the turn
in affairs.
"The new movement is neither very
good nor very wicked" he says, "but
1T is on the side of the angels, because
it belongs to growth. But. in
spite Of disadvantages, the new move
ment remains vital, an opening avenue,
because au fond, it is a movement
toward simplicity. Represents
tion versus Expression-the actual lion
as seen by Landseer versus the lion
like quality of the lion as expressed in
a. bas-relief by an ancient Assyrian
sculptor. In word, the diff
ference between the art of West and
East.
Pointing to Augustus John as the first
of the new, Mr.. Hind dwells at some
length on Cezanne. "Of the thousands
of Freedom pictures that have been
painted since the century dawned. it
may be said that Paul Cezanne was the
parent; that is, the parent of the idea
that binds them together" In writing
Of Gauguin he describes a number of
1.-The great barbarian's" pictures and
their effect upon himself. It is diff
cult for the author to generalize in re-
gard to Gauguin. The distinct emo
tons called for by his paintings are
still too vivid, it would seem.
With Van Gogh the author becomes
the critic again. Where he describes
tie emotion invoked by the Dutch
artists work it is that of persons he
has observed. But his generalities in
regard to Van Gogh are specific and
Gear cut.
Matisse and Picasso are discussed
sympathetically, even defensively. 1t
is obvious that Mr.. Hind wants to make
his readers tolerant and receptive to-
ward the new school.
In his dedication to F, ederick Dixon
Mr.. Hind says that he has kept "the
flag Of idealism cheerfully flying" In
5efense of the title of his book he saws
"tfrat describes it. 1t is my reaction
tc our Lady Art. love her. have
spent much of my life trying to under
stand and appreciate her. and all I
have written here about my adven-
lures is, for better or worse, Just a
true tale" Certainly his style should
win many to appreciation Of "Lady
Art" who have been rather coy toward
her heretofore.