The New York herald., 1921-12-14
Lachman, Honored
By France, Calls
American Art Poor
Painter Says 1t Is Unrepresen-
tative and Old Masters
Are Forgotten.

Special Despatch 10 THE NEW YORK HERALD
CHICAGO, Dec 15.-Membcrs OF the
Chicago Business Mems Art Club al
the Art Institute last night were
astounded by Harry B. Lachman Chi
cago painter, who las four paintings
in the Luxembourg Museum. Paris. and
is a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor
plain truths concerning American art"
"It was away over our heads" said
an official of the business Mems Art
Club to-day. so far over our heads
that we don't know whether he's right
or not. We certainly appreciated his
criticism of our own paintings. for he
gave US something constructive to work
on. but his criticism OF American ari
and artists-well. as say. it was over
our heads.
Some of the points Mr.. Lachman in
serted into his easel talk We're:
American painting is not representa-
tive OF Americanism.
Most modern art is cheap.
"We have forgotten that the old mas
ters existed
american artists self-satisfaction Is
holding them back artistically.
american homes are mail ord er
homes; they lack character because
they are standardized by interior dec
orators. There is no individuality.
"Cecelia Beaux, one OF the greatest
of American painters" Mr.. Lachman
said, "a woman who has spent much of
her life abroad, dared to say very re-
Gently that there is no American school
of art Nevinson. English painter, said
that the American idea Of art was q well
appointed bathroom. Their Raphael, Is
the plumber he said. and both of those
people got themselves In bad, and
they're still In bad.
None Of us likes criticism, but the
only way that American art can be
made really American Is to tell the truth.
1t is a question whether we can have a
school Of art in country as young as
America. 1t is a mistaken idea that in
our SNUG. self-satisfied American man
ner we think we have an American
school OF art
American painting Is not generally
representative of America This country
is strong, robust, straightforward, rug
sed- So many of its paintings are sweet
the French word 'amiable' is better.
Chicago is somewhat behind many
American cities because she fails to sup
port her artists. She wines and dimes
ner own known artists, but they must
sell their pictures elsewhere
at is an odd fact that ], an American.
can iive on my art in France. I could not
live on it In Chicago and know of MANY
others who have had the Identical ex-
perience. have been asked why I do
not paint in America, why I continue to
I'VE III France. as so many other Amerl-
can artists have done. It is because
France has helped me, an American.
American art leaders do not help the
younger artists. Big men in this coun-
try throw smoke screen around them.
selves; no. not smoke screen-e twelve
foot stone wall. In France the bigger
they are-in art, music, literature, any
thing Of that sort the more approach
able they are.
II had not been in France q month
before knew Renoir. Cottet, Signac and
Bonnard-world's masters in their art.
They helped me. they were glad to help
me. The French people helped me by
purchasing: the French Government
aided me by recognition.
American artists are not profiting by
the lessons OF the old masters. Other
wise they would paint with more respect
and love for nature as nature really is.
Nature cannot be improved on by any
painter. Why try to cd it?
Europeans come to this country 70
learn transportation. traction and sucn
things. France Is the one place in the
world TO learn true art. Why not admit
that here in America as willing as the
Frenchman is willing to admit that he
comes 90 America for industrial educa-
tion?'