Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-03


portray on canvas than were her
predecessors. This fact came to light when
a competition among hundreds of European
artists showed that only two had been success
full in painting the true type of modern woman.
The jury declared that "the outcome
the fault of woman and not of art. In former
a true type of womanhood was readily
recorded by the brush but the modern woman
commands art of Transforming her real self
into something which stands for the type Of
the day. Thus she makes a frst-rate photo
graphic subject but defeats attempts by por-
tratistS to depict her soul"
This statement raised good deal of spirited
controversy between some of our noted artists,
and varied opinions were expressed, in addition
to some interesting Sidelights on the modern
woman
UvTO my mind" said Joseph Cummings Chase,
prominent artist, who is particularly
known for his portraits of beautiful women,
1.-THE modern woman is an easier subject to
paint than her grandmother. One doesn't have
to make a very strong effort to learn her
thoughts. She frankly tells you all you want
or even don't want to know. Since she has
become exposed in more ways than one" twin
killed. the artist why should it be banning to
paint her?
What is more, no portrait painter tries to
depict the soul of his sitter. That idea Is
absurd. His only problem is to indicate. in so
sitter, whether it is beauty, or smartness, or
BOTH and, above all, to make the painting good
in the matter of design.
IT don't mean, of course that the artist
aims for Photographic likeness. That isn't
a very high type of portrait We recognize
people by certain effects that they produce.
caricature which accentuates the effect of a
woman will look more. like her and be far more
expressive than a Photographic likeness 1t is
the way she lifts her eyebrows or opens wide
her eyes when she is listening, or wrinkles her
nose before she smiles that, when reproduced
and accentuated, produces the strongest effects
of individuality.
LAS for painting a distinct type of modern
woman, that isn't possible, for the simple rea-
son that there never was a woman who repre-
scented the type of her day. Every woman
wants to be considered a distinct personality,
and she deliberately aims for that effect, even
though she may follow the general dictates of
fashion It is only men who conform to type.
They are willing to appear like other men, with
the result that they all seem to be cut of one
pattern
CEOFFREY NORMAN, on the other hand,
is inclined to agree with the jury's opinion.
Mr. Norman is young English portrait painter
who has spent the last year in America paint
ing number of famous and beautiful women.
Certainly the modern woman is difficult to
paint" he declared without hesitation. al
though first let me say that modern type is
open 10 several defnlClOnS. IL is nsr 1aulC,
though, to this extent: She makes little II
any, attempt to study her own type, she
presents artificial appearance.
1.-The regulation clothes, dictated haircut,
thoroughly standardized mind and an artificial
complexion are uninteresting to the portrait
painter unless he can find in them some deco
rative possibilities. These we must not over
look entirely, as they have their place in the
portrait On the other hand, the decorative
quality, though important, is a secondary con-
sideration and really has nothing whatever to
do with portrayal of character. Thus the
modern woman as a generalization, is not con-
tributing very much outwardly.
However, the main point is that an artist
is not concerned with generalization or with
types. He Is concerned only with the indi-
and her reaction to emotion, how she has lived,
suffered exulted and what she is capable of
expressing through herself
THE question of whether one attempts to
reveal the soul of woman is difficult to
answer, as many artists differ as to what they
call soul! At all events, the artist tries to
uncover the character and personality of his
subject, and his ability to do this often depends
upon his own knowledge of life, participating
yet remaining detached an onlooker using his
powers of analysis and his experience in bind
ing together into harmonious expression all
he can discover of the subjects personality.
This responsibility for any difficulty, there
fore, rests not only with the woman but also
with her interpreter. She is acquitted If she
provides the artist with something worthy of
Interpretation.
Perhaps" smiled Mr. Norman. 1--WE should
find that the women of the Golden Age were.
In their own ways and manners, thoughts and
clothes. standardized t1ev are TO-DAY