The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-01-29

National Museum. ~ It used to
be called. Here We are. Perhaps
you would like to glance at this
primitive motion picture machine
Of about twenty years ago, the
first invention Of its kind" and
DR.. olmsted snaps an electric but
ton.
EARLIEST MOVIE
why. It actually moves. You
can see sheets Of pictures. falling
one after the other. in such rapid
succession that they produce the
effect Of motion This IN . scene
In the United States Postoffice.
clerks sorting mall"
Yes, Of course; that was one
Of our earliest experiments with
the motion picture" goes on DR..
Olmsted. and in order to get suf-
ficient light to photograph them
fast enough, I remember that the
picture was staged out Of doors.
though all tho paraphernalia were
arranged exactly like the inside Of
the postoffice. It Is operated here
by this button you see."
"Dr. Olmsted. you have . large
collection Of photographs.
yes. We have practically . his
tory Of the development Of photos-
raphy. Hero 10 an old picture Of
,Dasucrre. the inventor Of photog-
raphy. fare which $500. was paid.
We have q new group just now.
however. to which I should like
to direct public attention. for I
believe these to represent the fin
est results in this art in America.
It II the exhibition Of artistic
photography by Floyd Vail, F. r.
p. g.. Of New York. the leading
pictorialist and chairman Of the
print committee Of the New York
Camera Club
REMARKABLE PICTURES.
These forty-nine pictorial photo
graphs by Mr.. Vail. now on view in
the section Of photography. arts and
industries building Of the United
States National Museum, are all
bromide enlarsements from small
negatives 3hx4A to bx7. and are
taken with q soft focus lens or
enlarged through ono. They are
straight prints: no handwork or
manipulation not Photographic was
used In their making.
Tho pictures are designed not to
demonstrate the science Of photog-
raphy." explains Mr.. Vail. but
the art capabilities Of tho medium.
and In but few cases the aim has
been to interpret light and atmos.
phere Of moods and emotions. To
suppress details 20 that tho ma
terial aspect of nature will not
obtrude and obscure the spiritual"
Many Of these photographs, in
fact tho greater number. are salon
prints and have been shown in
America and Europe. Mr.. Walls
early art education no doubt has
been q factor in his method of ex-
pressing the beautiful; whether
in city streets or country roads. he
finds subjects that command his in.
terest. The exhibition will con-
tinue until February 49, when 1t
will go to Chicago. Ill.
Let us observe especially the head
Of an old man. beautifully pictured
in character and pose. entitled
"The Law and the Prophet" and
another, a city square In win
ter storm, lovely enough to be
painters landscape. All these pho
tographs have real atmosphere
Enjoy them as long as you like.
and then come across the Mall to
the new museum building. still tho
homo of our national gallery Of
art, as well as the Roosevelt ami
NAL collection, the Indian groups
and other remarkable exhibits.
Let us call on the director Of
the national gallery. DR.. William
H. Holmes. who Ii also president
Of the Washington Society Of Art
lists. Some day we hope to greet
him in new and separate national
gallery building. which shall better
shelter and display our increasing
number of paintings.
Doctor Holmes, have you any.
thing new7"
why. my child, could show
you something new every day. bit
the latest picture we have hung
10 Ls Clears portrait Of General