Evening star., 1927-10-16

~ negie Institutes international
n exhibition. which opened in
Pittsburgh last Thursday. went
to modernists. The first prize
OF $500 was awarded to Henri Ma.
tisse, leader OF the modernist move
ment in France. for a painting OF still
life. The second, prize of $1,000 was
award to Anto Carte Of Belgium for
a plating entitled. Motherhood; the
third prize of $500 was awarded to
Andrew Dasburg, an American of
Sante Fs, n. Mex, for a painting of
poppies in q vase. The first honor
able mention, which carries with it an
award of $500, went to Antonio Don
CHI of Italy, for a painting entitled.
"Carnival'--a picture of q harlequin
clown and guitar player done in a
style which is essentially Donghl
own. The second honorable mention
went to Bernard karfio, an Ameri-
can, for two figures-young girls, one
nude, the other wearing 9 thin negll-
ge. painted with a landscape back
ground. Karfiol's works have been
shown, it will be remembered, here in
the Phillips Galleries. A prize OF
$500 offered by the Allegheny County
Garden Club was awarded to Max
Beckstein of Berlin, Germany, for
painting OF Gala ltlies.
These prizes were awarded by jury
consisting of Maurice Greiffenhagen
Of Great Britain, Karl Hofer of Ger
many, Maurice Denis of France. Fe-
lice Gasorati of Italy and Eugene
Speicher, Horatio Walker. Eugene
Savage and Abram Poole of the United
States, together with Homer SAINT
Cyaudens. director of fine arts at the
Carnegie Institute. At least four
members of this jury are known 10 oe
conservative in their views. Therefore,
il their votes were cast in accordance
with their declared leanings 1t would
seem as though the deciding vote
must have been cast by Mr.. Saint
Gaudens. Whether or not the md
ings of the jury were unanimous mas
not been announced. There IS no
doubt, however. that these awards
score a victory for the modernists and
evidence a Strengthening OF sentiment
in their favor.
1t has bene said that post-impres-
sionism and the other modern modes
of paintine were merely fads which
soon would be forgot. but instead tney
seem to be steadily gaining a larger
and more prominent place in the nelu
nf art Germany is completely given
over to so-called modernism; France,
where the movement originated. can
still boast q remnant Of the old guard,
but is vigorously behind the new
movement. OF all the countries IN,
volyed Italy seems to have SUCCEEDED
best in finding new paths ana retain
ing Conference of expression.
Up TO the present time. In the
minds of the majority of persons, art
has been synonymous with beauty
No longer is this so. The modern
lists. who are coming so rapidly to the
fore and have lately taken front rank
nositious. have little concern for the
amenities of grace. They show, in
many instances, it is true, a sensitive
ness to color, even when they employ
1t as a means to produce dissonance.
It is claimed by the opponents OF
modernism that the desire is to get
away from reality, to register feehng
rather than fact. It is not certain,
however. that the reaction on the part
of the observer is what the painter
intended, and the chances are, nine
times out OF ten, that the purpose
miscarries.
1t is very certain, however, that as
unlovely as this movement Is, 1t Is not
something to dismiss with a shrug or
a sneer. Revolutions are seldom
pleasure. giving. but they sometimes
ultimately produce good result. from
modernism in painting some good re-
suits have already accrued; others are
doubtless on their way. Therefore,
while the fact in itself Is crude ana
ugly. the end eventually attained may
be worth while.
The new, or modern, movement SO
far has been supported not by the
public but by a handful OF collectors
and innovators with, thrown In,
few dealers who recognize the value
OF sensation in a world always seek
ing that which is novel, the new. Un-
less the people generally lose sense
of beauty and reverence Tor tnat
which is beautiful. there is no danger
that art, will long be divorced from
those ideals to which for many GEN.
turies it has given expression.
It is said that the exhibition at the
Carnegie Institute, consisting OF ap-
proximately 400 paintings by Euro
pean and American artists, Is made up
almost exclusively Of the works OF
men and women under 40 years or
age. II this is so, the new movement
may well be regarded as the revolt
of youth and in measure typical OF
a time in which new inventions and
new world conditions are requiring
TedOJuSIItlSHL uOI OilIy VI ANAHSs DuS
Of life itself. 1t should not be sup
posed, however, for a moment that in
order to meet these changing condi-
tions it is necessary to discard the
past. Nor need there be fear that
with changing ideals the guiding star
of those who have gone before VIII
ever be eclipsed.
The exhibition in Pittsburgh was
opened Thursday by the Founders
day exercises celebrated annually Tor
81 years, at which the President OF the
United States made the principal ad-
dress Secretary Mellon, who is one
of the great art collectors of the coun-
try, is trustee Of the Carnegie In
Stitute, and accompanied the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Coolidge to Pittsburgh;