The New York herald., 1921-12-19
AMERICAN ARTISTS
SCORN DETRACTOR
Country Has School and
Style of It's Own, They
Insist.
NEW EPOCH BEGINNING
Painters and Sculptors Help
Civilization, Says Ju-
liam BOwes.
SOME CRITICISM USEFUL
Chicago Man Unqualified to
Give Worth While Opinion,
Thinks Robert Henri.
SOME CRITICISM USEFUL

New York painters and sculptors a
little less than anything else arrived
from Chicago last Wednesday. It was
the viewpoint of Harry B. Lachman
Mr.. Lachman. Chicago painter
took advantage OF a meeting of the
Chicago Business Mems Art Club to
say that American artists are a smug
set. overcomplacent and forgetful OF
Inv o,d masters. OF the work of the
American painter end sculptor he said
xhat It lacks Individuality, that it is
not American and that most modern
art Is cheap anyway. Add to that the
fact that Mr.. Lachman says he is
appreciated in France but would be
left to starve II he tried to dispose
OF his wares at home, and you have
the skeleton of Mr.. Lachman's dis
course.
Edward Robinson, director of the
Metropolitan Museum of Art, was
asked for a reply to Mr.. Lachman.
should reply. He declared himself
much too busy to give Mr.. Lachman's
words more than passing scrutiny. You
could deduce from Mr.. Robinson's at
titude that he could add nothing to
what Robert Aitken, Robert Henri,
Irving r. Wiles, Edwin Blashheld. Will
lam J. Glackens. Howard Giles. George
w. Bellows and representatives Of the
League of New York Artists and the
Art Centre, Inc, felt moved to utter.
Chicago Critic Unknown.
All the artists agreed that they did
not know either Mr.. Lachman or his
work.
ANY man who starts off by saying
that It makes a difference in what coun-
try the artist lives or works" said Rob
ert Aitken, sculptor. gets into an argu-
rnent with me TO begin with. After all,
you know. there are only two kinds OF
urt-good art and bad art. Locality
has nothing to do with it. What diff
ference does it make whether the art
comes from Oshkosh or Paris, Keokuk
or Vienna. Painted Post or Rome? Art
is good or art is bad You'll find peo-
pie with flares for either"
Hindu Defends Bathroom.
THE NEW YoaK HERALD was fortunate
enough to catch Tamhtab Tew. Hindu
master. who. az every lover OF marine
painting knows. became an American
citizen several years ago and has con-
trlbuted much toward the fame of Long
Island Sound. Mr.. Tsw was just leav-
ing for Lima. Peru.
"I shall limit my opinion" said Mr..
Tew, ito Mr.. Lachman's reference to
the American bathroom. 1t was the
American bathroom that won me from
my native British allegiance. While ]
shrink from comparing Raphael with
the gentleman who created my bath
room. am quite willing TO grant that
the latter gentleman has given humanity
rs much as any one of the old masters
Oddly enough, too, I find that this
plumbers name Is Raphael Rubens.
IT hope you will not think me strug-
Cling for effect or making light of a
most serious matter. but the whole con-
troversy reminds me of that priceless
story of the Countess Anomik Nrot, the
most gifted woman In Tunis. The
Countess was entertaining Whistler. who
made some rather clever remark about
the similarity between the work OF
Turner and that of William Gedney
Bunce.
'ReaIlyT murmured the inimltable
Countess.
superb. don't you Think" said Mr..
Tew. And doesn't that adequately an
swer Mr.. LachmanT
"Distfnctton Growing"
Edwin Blashheld said:
American art is becoming more and
more American every day. Personally i
am fond OF course Of the old masters
and ] think they should be studied. I
do not know Mr.. Lachman. but IL does
seem 10 me that he is contradicting him
self when he says that we lack indi-
viduality and at the same time that we
xail 20 study the old masters"
Irving r. wiles said:
"1 don't consider what Mr.. Lachman
said very seriously. AS a matter OF fact
he Is quite wrong about II. He may be
a good painter and all that but surely
he speaks without information. You
may 20 into any salon IN Europe and
recognize American paintings at a
Elance. They are utterly distinctive.
IUcJ dTN <hINl ~ CA1 AutA @NiIltl-
lea has developed no school OF art s
absurd. We have a very definite school
Ia schoo, quite different from others
/ am Of the opinion that IL Mr.. Lachman
will be considerate enough 10 remain In
america for a while he will change his
views"
"of course we can stand criticism"
said Robert Henri. Criticism is good
for us There Ia ample room for Il. We
have much 20 learn and we shall learn
81. But am afraid that there is not
much TO be learned from sources such
rs Mr.. Lachnlan."
"schooI Just Being Founded"
william J. Glackens came nearer 20
seeing merit In Mr. 1.achman's state
snents than any other Of the artists In
tervicwed.
IL don't know whether ] agree with
Nr. I.achman or not" said Mr. Glack-
ems AT any rate agree with him to
a certain extent, but not wholly. We
have no American school at present
that fs, we have no definite school IL is
IN The process OF foundation. however.
We've had some good painters. Some
OF them compare very favorably with
the old masters. After all, why make
such a fuss about national art? ! be-
ilcvc IN an international art. for art is
art no matter where Il springs from"