Evening star., 1923-12-06
The North Window
BIZ LEILA MECHLIN

Il BY LEILA MECHLIN - q
Royal Cortissoz has chosen as SUBJ
ject for the first Of his series OF dis
cursive articles The Field OF Art"
Scribner's Magazine. THE Art Of Art
Criticism" opening with a defense
OF the art critic and a justification
for the profession. TO an extent this
was q little like preaching to the
good people who come to church on
the evils Of nor. attendance, for those
who read art criticisms are only
those who have faith in the critic;
but II is a subject close to all art
writers' hearts-sepsitive ground.
For Mr.. Cortissoz is right when he
says. I'm the eyes Of multitude of
artists the critic Is an enemy Of man
kind" To be sure, criticism Is large
ly associated with fault-f1nding. but
there is a large company OF profes-
sional artists who firmly believe and
hold that no one but a practising ar
ttst has any business to have any
ideas, or opinions about art. Also, as
Mr.. Cortissoz points out, the art
critic does. not deal with insensate
things, but with the works of human
beings. and unless he is always com
plfmentary, in which case he would
be Of no value as critic, he is
bound to hurt the sensibility of the
artists whose works are adversely
commented upon. He tells a good
story to illustrate the point, and,
though an old one. worth repeating:
"Ruskin wrote to q friend that he
hoped. a devastating criticism he had
ture would mako no difference in
their friendship. Dear Ruskin,' re-
piled the artist, next time I meet you
| shall knock you down. but ] hope
II Will make no difference in our
friendship" Between honesty and
kindness the, critic is often 'twixt
the devil and the deep blue sea
4. j .+.*
1t is: perfectly understandable that
those who do something. producing
artists, should feel that none could
know so well what was good and
what was poor as themselves: that
they are the best judges Of works Of
art, and o"they are in certain re-
,specta. but an artist OF real worth
has in almost every instance an ex-
tremely individual viewpoint, and
this Is bound to influence his iudg-
ment of the works Of Others. AS
all know, the man WITH a judicial
mind who sees on all sides or. both
sides of a question is rarely d force
full personality-a leader. - ~.
The critic also may labor under this
n ~
must be confessed. make dull writer's.
But the ideal critic is he who through
his own. knowledge. Of art and sensi-
tive appreciation leads the public into
new paths of understanding and
opens up vistas Of enjoyment. He is
the voice crying through the wilder
ness. the prophet who points the
way, the guide, the mentor and friend
who through his own delight adds to
&he delight of others. =.
u x&
Cecilia Beaux has lately said in a
little article on the work OF the
American Federation OF Arts that one
OF the most important needs OF the
people of this country Is "a strength
ening of the power of criticism In
proud" she says. land have reason.
TO be proud of the people when our
citizen is able to have an opinion, and
a Just one. sstheticaIfy. on the i'm
proyenents- proposed for the home
town and a sound and individual
opinion on what he wants for the
Mrnishing of his own home" And
she urges that no effort be spared Ito
fuas- @fs a H.. IT,
In what concerns the seeing eye"
Now this not only applies accurate
Jy 10 the work of the American Fed
GRAFTON of Arts, but to the function
OF an art critic, a function which Mr.
Royal Cortissoz himself has most ad-
mira bly, performed through his writ
lnss. in4the. New York Tribune and va
rious magazines. and through his pub
lished books. He is, indeed. a most
enlightening and discriminating crit
ic. For years he has been In close
association with artists. and he has
taken pains to get their viewpoint,
but he has always insisted upon
thinking for himself. and he is a
born teacher. Furthermore. his style,
both in writing and lecturing, is es-
sentialIy his own. 1t is conversa-
tional, but what, he has TO say is All
carefully strung on one string, and.
hrs theme naturally is developed as.
the ball is unwound. 1t Is an easy,
graceful style and one which makes
for easy reading or listening.
ican art critic is Frank Jewett Ms-
ther, jr.. of Princeton University, for
many years art critic of the New
York. Evening Post. Mr.. Mather has
made a special study of Italian,
painting and is pre-eminently a
scholar, an expert as distinguished
from the art publicist or missionary.
He is also a. most patriotic citizen,
and when-war was declared in 1917
hastily, put aside his pen and typec
writer and joyously assumed the
duties of a boatswain's mate in the
Navy He has lately published new
book on Italian art. H..
One of the most delightful writer's.
on art that. we have had in this
country in recent years has been
Anna Schmidt of this city.
Miss Schmidt had the rare gift of,
being, able to interpret personality
without ever being unduly personal
She was able, as few have been, to
bring the artists themselves in d
friendly way before the public and
to thus give those who only knew
their art an insight into their ideals
and characters. She was for many
years a friend of 'Rodin and her writ,
ines on his works have notable quail
Eity, To her criticism meant, not fault y
finding but the pointing out of that
which was most meritorious. a.