Evening star., 1924-03-16

THE UP.TO-DATE ART PHENOMEl
by the average citizen, the desire to
get in on the ground floor" directs
him to low prices marked in plain
figures.
1t is a great day for the independ-
ent salon. And for unknown painters!
All this has been recognized, in a
growing way. for some time past. but
what is taking place today at the
Independents Salon makes it sensa-
tional. a world phenomenon. =
On vanishing day of the ind.pend-
ents the grent public literally
swamped the so-called old artistic
and fashionable element in mass at
tendance at any art show. A crush
OF 14.600 people beat all vanishing
day records of the authoritative sa-
1ons-the Old Salon tArtistes Fran
cais). the New Salon fSociete Ma
tionaleo and their selling overflow in
the Autumn Salon. equally we'll under
authority of masters, critics and con-
noisseurS.
Now, the Independents Salon (very
much in New York as in Paris) is
an annual art show which is not un-
der authority, either esthetic or
moral. It is not a close corporation
OF masters and their students. In
Paris it admits and hangs almost
:snybody's picture. 1t has no stand
ards. Almost any one. painting by no
matter what theories or inspirations,
Nj t,z
instruction or practice, can take pic
lures to the independents and have
them honorably exhibited, for the
public to Judge
So here is the astonishing art boom.
In New York the eighth annual ex-
htbition of the Society of Independent
Artists is said to mark an epoch"
Since its first show. in 1917, there
have been $500 painters who exhib-
tied in it, to an average public Of
$1,000 persons.
In Paris, this one exhibition, 2,g17
painters are exhibiting 3,143 pictures
at the Independents-each being lin
ited to two. but some having sent but
one. In the crush of vanishing day
alone nearly $4,000 persons passed
through the vast halls of the Grand
Palais, packed in a continuous human
food.
In previous years such crowds were
great, but now the newspapers re-
mark the thing as a phenomenon.
All kinds of oil paintings
All prices marked in plain figures!
x x Ns:-*
THIS price marking. an extraordi-
nary novelty in art exhibitions,
is the exact and simple fact. Each
one Of the 2,017 painters exhibiting
has had the courage to affix it's price
to each of his Cor her) pictures, fol-
lowing it's number in the catalogue,
and the good sense, for the most part,
to make the price very moderate.
1t adds enormously to selling
chances.
1t whets the interest of the mass
public. Here is a chance, at once, to
back ones fancy and to pick up bar
gains! The same glance which shows
the artists name and pictures title
tells how much it will cost to own 1t.
For example, there Is 'The Or
ehard," by q Kansas City girl, Bea-
trice. Tassingcourt-E Edwards, which
seems almost Raphael for color and
grace, although the drawing Is per-
.Eaps purposely primitive. Three fem
mime figures under the trees. How
much? Quick! Eight hundred francs
4 thing of beauty for $36! would
have bought that picture. Only one
thing stopped met was sold. On
the fourth day of the exhibition! -.
Now, the other extreme-in price,
anyway. 1t is Raymond Duncan,
brother of Isadora- He has used $36
worth of paint on a vast canvas, a
tragic fat lady holding a big-headed
babe. with sardonic spotted party
cursing her in the background. Price,
10000 francs--that is to say, pre-war,
$4,000; present exchange, $s1o.. It is
mot yet sold, but three Americans
were debating it's purchase as an in
yestment. Duncan Is we'll known.
1t is fascinating to know the price.
Here are forty-two Americans, hung
in a special hall devoted to their
works. Some will become illustrious.
More than half, probably, will become
well known. Most of the others will
not be unknown. And it is remark
able how regulations sometimes jump
after the artists decease.
Now is the time to pick them up.
In the old salons you make applica-
ton, have an interview with the Sec
retary, and at length delicately in
quire the price. Sometimes, even,
i, there may be delay, and fishing It
-Des not strike. the Imagination.
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