The Washington times., 1922-04-16

from the great art periods Of his
tory" q.
No artist before Edstrom has con.
ceived the idea of giving expression
TO clouds In sculpture, which de-
mands repose and circumscribed
entity 20 catch and hold something
that sways and floats, Ed
strom's clouds flutter like flag that
is on the point of being torn 70
pieces by the wind and the folds
melt together In the shape Of q man
and woman. but only the two heads
have complete human form"
~ To Sec Is to Dream.
The original of this remarkable
piece of sculpture Is In the Thiel
Gallery, Stockholm. 1t In probably
the most etheriai production ever
wrought in such substantial
medium as bronze. II sets you
a-dreaming at first sight. ana WAITS
you TO the Orchard Lands Of Long
Ago" where, amidst falling petals OF
apple blossoms, one gaxes from
grassy bed TO the blue sky above and
secs pictures in the floating. fieecy
clouds. In such a spot as this, one
imagines that David Edstrom first
conceived his Cloud Lovers"
"Ophelia," shown In the winter
exhibition of the National Academy
in New York, seems fairly to breathe
out the pure soul OF Shakespeare's
heroine, whose slender, swaying fig
ure seems nodded of spirit rather
than OF flesh. IL surely suggested
"Pansles, for Thoughts"
"As a boy" said David Edstrom.
"I had heard that Shakespeare was
the greatest writer In the world, so
the first time. / had 65 cents
bought a cheap edition and began
digging away at IL until came to
an understanding of the great bard,
and we have been good friends ever
since He has furnished me much
Of my inspiration. He hews and
chisels thoughts and iceas as a sculp-
tor hews and chisels marble. He Ia
a matchless word-sculptoy.
Mr.. Edstrom was the creator Of
the two Egyptian statues, Isis" and
"Nephthys" In the Scottish Rite
Temple at Washington.
His study Of the human passions
has resulted I'm the portrayal In
bronze OF Pride" Fear" Envy"
"Caliban." Earlier studies were
Gain and Abel" The Atheists 8
Dream" Freedom" and "Rapso-
die" OF the latter, Ernest Mo
Cam. secretary of the Allied Art
lists Association, writes in the Art
Chronicle. Hts rRapsodie' gives a
whole gamut of emotion In one
harmonious whole" In this set also
might be placed his "Lucifer," and
Motherhood" the former shown
with fist tightly closed In mute
threat. defiant. yet controlled, ad-
vancing with perfect self-conscious-
ness and assurance, the latter COM
position showing in motherhood
the abandonment of ecstacy and
self -abnegation. pure seraphic
love fun of voluptuousness.
Many Famous Patrons.
Mr.. Edstrom has made busts of
many famous people, among these
bronze bust of Princess Patricia
of Connaught, the famous Princess
Pat" OF world war fame; Ellen Key,
the noted Swedish writer and re-
former; the Countess Alice Won
Trolle: Ernest Thiel, of Thiel Gallery,
Stockholm; DR.. Axel Romdahi: Senior
Francisco d'Andrade; DR.. Franz
oppenheimer; His Excellency Erik
ven Trolie; Or. Frederick van
Eoden, DR.. Ludwig Loostrom. and
many others.
His ''Hunchback," Day and
Night" Sphinx" and "oid italian
Soldier" have attracted much at
tention in the art world.
Edstrom never rests on his
laurels. He is a great talker. but
he is also doer--a rare combina-
ton, indeed. He is an incessant
worker, possessing such a super.
abundance of vitality. that often he
seems to have no mercy on his
models. yet he In kindness personi-
fled. 1t is just that he does not
realize that others are not possessed
OF his own vital strength and energy
AN age-old inheritance, perhaps,
from his Viking ancestors
Often, he becomes 40 absorbed in
his work that he win go all day
and FAR into the night fithout food
or fatigue. but he has plenty Of re-
serve energy on which to draw.
He has typified In his own life
his Man Triumphant" transmit.
ing flesh and blood into mute