The Washington times., 1923-03-04
.LATV|A SENDS
EXHIBIT Of HER
ARTS To CITY
New Baltic Republic First
to Display Collection in
Response to invitation
DEPICTS NATIONS CULTURE
Paintings, Textiles, Prints, and
Pottery Among Handicraft|
on View In Capital Salons
BIZ VIKTOR FLANrBEAu.


In response to The Tines Her.
AIDS invitation to artists to exhibit
IA Washington, Latvia, one Of the
three Baltic republics lately recog-
nized by the United States, has
been the first to send display Of
her arts. This fascinating exhibi-
ton of paintings, textiles, prints
and pottery will open today at the
Art Center, with a reception in
honor of the Charge d'Affaires of
Latvia and Madame Sega, both of
whom are very favorably known
in Washington.
The collection, although not large,
- very representative of Latvian
culture and unique in character.
There are original paintings by
Wilhelm Purwit, the leading artist
OF Riga, and reproductions of the
work of the late Jan Rozenthal, in
whose home in Riga Flambeau was
q guest OF Madame RozenthaI last
September, when arranging for the
show. R0zenthal was probably tho
greatest painter the country has
produced. Others who will be In
cluded are Burkards DEEMS, sculp-
tor and head of the modern mu-
scum OF Riga; Mr.. and Nine. Ed.
Paegle. who have sent from their
school remarkable hand weavings
and other examples or folk arts:
and the expressionisf drawings Of
8 Vidbergs, who is q follower of
Aubrey Beardsley, with his friend,
Roman Souta. president of the ex-
pressionist artists Of Riga.
SPEAKS HOPEFULLY.
DR.. Charles Louis Sega. who has
represented his country for nearly
two years here, and through whose
assistance the new exhibition has
the future OF LaIvla, which, though
considered q small country, is larger
IN area than Belgium.
The Baltic republics, and more
particularly Latvia, Esthonia and
Lithuania," said DR.. Sega, "are en-.
tering new period of their exist.
ence. They have now successfully
achieved their interior organizat ton
and they have at the same time
gained the fun political recognition
of their independence by all the
civilized nations of the world"
On November Is last Latvia cele-
brated the fourth anniversary OF
her independence. A few days pre-
viously the first constitutional
president was elected, Mr.. Jahnis
Tschakste, who had been president
OF the Constituent Assembly, and
who had the presidential functions
Of the republic for the past four
years by remarkable majority, 90
per cent of all the votes. Six rep
resentatives refrained from voting,
but not single vote was cast
against Mr.. Tschakste, who had
been from 1906 for several years
q member of the Russian Duma,
until that legislative body was dis.
solved by the czarist movement,
after which Tschakste was, one of
those to suffer imprisonment for
expressing views protesting against
that act of violence.
PREMIER Is POPULAR.
Latvia has as prime minister M.
z. A. Meierovics, who is also min
lister Of foreign affairs. q man
highly popular in Riga, as Flam-
beau was able to Judge from per.
sonal observation. Premier Meiero-
vics very graciously gave Flambeau
his photograph, with a personal in
scription. American travellers are
sure of a good time in Ria, as
they find themselves guests of
honor there.
During the first years Of its ex-
istence," according to DIR. Sega, "the
new republic had to struggle with
the greatest economic difficulties,
as Latvia had suffered in the war
more than any other country in
Europe and had lost at a certain
moment 40 per cent of it's inhabi-
tants. Although economic condi-
tions in Latvia are still far from
satisfactory, yet the results already
achieved are most encouraging. For
the second year LatviA has now been
able to balance her budget, the cur
Fency was stabilized eighteen months
ago, and the work Of the money
printing press was stopped. During
the past few months Latvia has had
q favorable trade balance, her ex-
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