Evening star., 1927-11-20

" " at the Arts CluD, -0l' L
street. is given over at the
present time to an eXhlbl'
ton of paintings in oil and water color
by ]. Lars Hoftrup whose work mas
been favorably received in other cities
by artists and critics.
Mr.. Hoftrup, a Scandinavian by
birth and an American by ADOPTION
has a way distinctly his own and does
not follow in the footsteps OF others
HIS water colors, particularly those
shown in the upper assembly room,
are freer and more engaging than MS
nils. Both, however. are interestingly
Mt one and the same time boid ana
vague. Mr. Hoftrup has uistlnctiy
violent manner; his style is preclpl-
tant. his color brilliant, but he is by
M means exact. His renderlngs are
purelv suggestive and leave much TO
the ina agination. It is his intention
that they should do so, for 1t is MS
belief that the mind OF the observer
can create something more beautiful
than even he can express. An exact
statement, he claims. can never pos
sess this particular quality, for it tells
the story and tells it completely. lie
uses by preference water color, for
through this medium and the tech
niuue it imposes the ends he desires
can best he attained. To an extent
he has in his water Colors some OF the
luscious quality and the strength that
one finds, respectively, in the water
colors of Sargent and Winslow Homer
but his manner is very different. his
technique iooser. more vague. Occa-
sionally he rises to a really great
height. Among his water colors, for in
stance, is one of sea and land and sky
superbly interpreted, interesting in
pattern, spacious and dramatic in suS-
gestion. And again, in another in
stance, he has set forth a tree on the
shore in fog, which is as subtle as
one could deSire-atm evanes-
cent in effect He has rendered in an
other instance the facade of stuc-
coed house in broad sunlight with
full color brush and the richness
which we associate today with the
modern Spanish school of painting.
One must not examine these works
OF Mr. Hoftrup's too closely. They are
not to ne seen at short range, but are
most effective at n considerable dis
tance. The method is different from
acquainted, but for this very reason
is interesting, and undoubtedly be.
speaks power.
Some of the paintings shown We're
made last Summer at Grand Manan,
but the majority were done in other
places-Europe, Africa and our own
United States.
X = X
TT is amazing how many people to-
day are collecting and finding pleas
ure IN collecting etchings and other
original prints. 1t is no less amazing
how many good etchers there are, for,
after all, it is a difficult medium and
one which does not permit hasty or
unskillful execution. To be sure,
Rembrandt was the supreme master
of etching, but there was long gap
between Rembrandt and Whistler,
Seymour Haden and Meryon, and it
is only within the last 20 years that
the number of good etchers has been
greatly multiplied.
No doubt the renaissance both in
production and in interest has been
in part brought about by professional
associations-the Chicago Society of
Etchers. for instance, which has done
much. not only through its annual
exhibition of members works, but
also through lectures and demonstra-
'tions, to attract attention to this beau
tiful art. Under the auspices of the
California Print Makers Society an
international exhibition has been held
annually for several seasons, and this
organization has circulated in small
places group exhibitions which have
also spread knowledge of the print
makers productions. There is
Brooklyn Society of Etchers and, in
Philadelphia, the Print Club, while
here in Washington we have the
print division Of the Library of Con-
gress, with it's occasional notable ex-
hibitions: Gordon Dunthorne's gallery,
where the finest examples are to be
seen from time to time, and the
Smithsonian Institution, in which the
division of graphic arts of the Ma
tional Museum has exhibition space
and where, under the skillful direc-
tion Of Ruel p. Tolman, for several
seasons now significant groups of
etchings, Autographs and engravings
have: been set forth monthly from Oc-
tober to May.
Around these centers a local inter-
est in fine prints is being built up.
And what could be better. for fine
prints are sources of great enjoyment,
and, if one is commercially minded,
also not infrequently good invest
naents. 1t is a well known fact that
etchings by Zorn which might have
been purchased 10 or IS years ago
for $50 are now selling for $4,000.
What other investment offers such
sporting chance of reward?
There is real esthetic delight to
be found in the exhibition of English
furniture and color prints which has
occupied the Dunthorne Gallery for
the last fortnight. for here are works
which the collector eyes with envy
and eagerness, but which the poverty
stricken dilletante may freely enjoy
and. through seeing, make his own.
AT the Library of Congress the
Pennell memorial exhibition is still in
place and will remain on view until
Springtime. And this is well, for not
only did Joseph Pennell give royalty
TO. his Nation, but few have done