Evening star., 1923-03-08
The North Window
BY LEILA MECHLIN.


In tho columns of an art newspaper
1t was recently announced that at the
auction sale Of a private collection in
London 1870 had been paid for u. Y.
Cameron's etching entitled Five Sis
ters"--a record for this etching, the
highest hitherto paid having been
1870. To verify this statement re-
sort was made to the publication
American Art Sales, which records
prices brought at auction by works
of art during each season, and. be-
hold, 1t was discovered that here In
America last November, at an auction
held in New York, an Impression OF
the same print brought $2,050, which,
at the present rate Of exchange. is
nearly s400 more than the record
price in London. At that same sale
in New York an etching by Cameron.
entitled ben. Ledi." brought $4,000.
and The Gateway Of Bruges
Cameron was born in 1865 and is stili
living, which fact should go part way
at least to disprove the frequent
declaration that artists Of high merit
are not appreciated during their life
time.
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Cameron's etchings have from the
very nrst been exceedingly individual
and have been distinguished by
beauty of texture. charm Of compost
tion and exquisite arrangement Of
light and shadow. Undoubtedly no
learned of Rembrandt. Of Meryon, OF
Haden and Of Whistler, but his work
is in no wise reminiscent of any of
who have only bowling acquaintance
with the. works OF contemporary
etchers know a Cameron etching on
I the instant. SO distinctive is the style.
For the most part Cameron chooses
and has chosen architectural themes,
which he has selected here and there
in Italy. France. England and his
own Scotland because Of inherent
: loveliness. which through his render
ting he makes obvious to all. There
| is a romance about his etchlngs
which is difficult to explain. but
| readily comprehended; and yet his
work has about 1t invariably a grave,
simple dignity.
Occasionally he etches landscape.
His own Scotch Highlands he has
Transcribed through this medium with
evident sympathy. Holding in re-
m EN- brance the limitations of his me-
uiuHl, SlInDl11ylnB MS SUBJECT 10 lnc
utmost degree, he still is able to in
terpret broad views in such wise as
| to suggest spaciousness and at the
same time intimacy. In his land
scape etchings is discoverab!e that
note of aloofness which is SO often
| found in nature; and in the same way
! this spirit OF repose, of almost sub
| lime quiet, pervades his etchings of
buildings-his interpretations of the
works Of man.
! One OF the FIRST in this country to
appreciate and collect Cameron's
ietchings was the late Alfred jeffrey
Parsons, who organized the print
division of the Library of Congress
and was for some years-in fact, until
his death--its chief. Not only did Mr..
Parsons buy Cameron's etchings for
himself, but, with the spirit of the
genuine art lover, arranged compre-
hensive exhibitions of Cameron S
works here in the Library of Con-
gresS so that through this medium
! he might become known. and has be-
! come known. 10 the people of Wash :
ington, and doubtless to many stran-
gers who, visiting the National Capt.
tai! CHANGED TO see them. rat that
| time CamerOn'S reputation was IN the
making. though almost from the first
rewarded. But Cameron's etchinss
could be had then for from $50 TO
perhaps 500, and that was not
twenty years ago. Even then. how
event. as it is today. to collectors.
and its arrival the occasion of the
gathering of a group to share with
one another It's delight.
i: x y
There is perhaps no art so intimate
as that of etching and no form Of art
which to those who care for art a I all
| is more keenly enjoyable or exciting
; of emotion. In all probability Co
| lumbus experienced no greater Joy
| at discovering the new continent than
an enthusiastic collector of etchings
iexperiences in discovering a new
talent. This Joy is not reserved
more over. for those who have had
years of experience, but Will come to
| the veriest amateur; for intuition fire.
iauently points the right way, and one
may even have the pleasure of hav-
hing personally discovered Rembrandt
!or Whistler. 1t is an interesting and
an exciting game to play. all by ones
self in an exhibition OF etch1ngs or
prints, inspecting them without re-
gard to labels. picking out those
works which make most appeal and
VERIFYING ones judgment by examina-
tion of the catalogue.
| Nor need this amusement be con-
fined to mere looking. If one has
little money and chooses 10 invest 1t,
!one may become collector of etch-
;ings and verify ones judgment by
the increase in values. watching not
! the stock market returns. but the
published reports of the art auction
sales. Take, for example, single
print by Whistler. "Nocturne.' one
nT nNhllgheO
| in 1880 and sold at that time for $3.50.
which would fix it's value at that time
! at SEQ. In 1905 this print sold for
$1,000 At the Ives sale in 1915 1t
brought $4,000. and in New York In
April, 1917. it sold for $4,000. Or take
| Rembrandt etching, "The Burgo-
master Six" which when made sold
| for $40. In 1893 this brought $1,000
/ and in 1909 s13,420. The works of
cotemporary etchers are advancing
| by leaps and bounds. and though there
may be compa aratively few Rem
F.. brandts, whistlers and Camerons
among them--who knows? The very
uncertainty lends interest to the
game.
| A society of young etchers in Eng
land issued some while ago a delight
full little circular setting forth the
| advantages of print collecting and
Offering to send groups of etchings
by it's members to possible purchasers
| on faith. It read as follows:
| I'VE all collect something--old fur
niture, china. pewter and brass
furniture takes up much space, porce-
| lain and china break, pewter and
brass want constant cleaning. stamps
have a way Of losing themselves and