New-York tribune., 1921-11-20
The New Society
yigor the keynote of Its Latest
Exhibition

There is a piece of sculpture by Mr..
lfahonri Young in the third annual ex-
hibi.ion Of the New Society CT Artists
at the Wildenstein gallery which per-
fectly symbolizes the whole tone Of
this organization. "A!cmena." it is
called, a classical subject treated to
some extent in the classical manner
Ar Young has dipped into that fount
uf archaic inspiration of which Mr.
Ianship and divers others have made
so much. But the modelling is also elo-
euent Of modern naturalisln. The
sculptor is as energetic realist as
though he had never dallied with the
antique. He vitalizes his rather aca-
demic motif by individuality and an
essentially progressive outlook. Feel
ing for nature IS at the bottom of his
art The beauty of this "Alcmena'' is
largely the beauty of life. We admire
cidentally, as we have said, it points
to the broad merit Of the exhibition.
There IS an interesting difference be-
tween the New Society and the Society
Ct American Artists, it's predecessor
long ago in the registering of protest
against established conservatism. The
former maicontents were deeply con-
cerned in the skiIlful manipulation of
pigment; they made much of the
beauty of mere painted surface They
we're wise in this. Their choice gave
10 technique the dignity belonging to
II. That solicitnde for painted surface
may decline into preciosity is a cir
cumstance offering no difficulties to
the connoisseur Of painting He is not
Dcsulled by the niggling refinements of
a da5ster into misunderstanding the
seid merits of, say, an Alfred Stevens.
ne New Society most emphatically af-
nrms its newness in it's Indifference to
ms aspect Of technique. Few of the
exhibitors here seem to care two straws
ior the character of their surfaces.
Mr.. Hassam is one Of the few, but he
belongs to what is now the "old guard :"
She company that rebelled against the
Academy. He sends some pleasant lit
lie nudes, capital notes, but not exactly
ot MS best. His most satisfactory pic
ture IS the Self Portrait" which dates
from 1888, and that clever interior
might, we fear, be cited against the
hypothesis of painters painting to
which we have been alluding, the sub
Ject being lost in a penumbra of
Drown sauce" In another key, much
higher and more luminous, is the EAST
Ct sunday" of Mr.. Carl Melchers. 1t
was painted. we gather, not long before
Tue war and it recalls an even earlier
period IN the artists career. The pic
'ure Is full Of high notes charmingly
adjusted. What especially strikes us
Is the way in which the brilliant color
seaeme Is truly enveloped, made q unit
" pictorial and sensuous appeal. This
u characteristic souvenir of the mode
me Society OF American Artists stood
ior. The picturesque subject is suffi-
eisntiy exploited, but one recognizes
aoove all the ardent technician. paint
ag with enjoyment of his materials,
"Ah an infectious gusto.
ane New Society," as body, seems
more concerned with life than with art,
siact which we state neither in praise
hVr IN disparagement, but simply as
'ie Indication of a. prevailing state of
alhd. here and there an exhibitor
might seem to contradict the observa-
s0n. There is Mr.. Leon Kroll, giving
Ills surfaces something like polish,
iuitoodied, glistening character. He
- accomplished, too. The figured dress
ia ms Morning in Midsummer" sug-
sssts an alert student of Manet and
Dsgas Mr. Van Perrine also, in his
sasamnai landscapes, is obviously bent
upon esaorting from thick, ridgy I'M
pssto n-. the tapestrylikc effect it may
0e made to yield, and his efforts as a
worst are fairly successful, being
arsner heightened by very personal
interpretation of landscape sentiment.
a1sre- are the portraits and the nude
painted by Mr.. Robert Henri, exam
s'es of brisk virtuosity in brush
s0rk II not in the caressing of sur
ace. Mr. Sterner counts in the small
group OF painters interested in method.
a's Portrait of Hari Govind Govil,"
a'sractiye as a pattern Of color, leaves
~ even deeper impression through the
aeatment Of the head. IL is the best
Rece OF construction and drawing he