Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-09

reasons. Because, primarily, OF its In
trinsic interest. which is great, sub
jectively and artistically; secondly, be-
cause of what it may lead to. and
thirdly, on account of the fact that II
is the first exhibition held under the
newly formed division of fine arts, OF
which Leicester B. Holland has lately
become head, being the first incumbent
Of the chair of fine arts established
some time ago by gift of the Carnegie
! Corporation to the Library OF Congress
The photographs in this exhibition
were made at the instance of Mrs. Dan
lei B. Devore of Chatham, one Of the
most beautiful old historic estates near
/ Fredericksburg, through her desire that
record shall be preserved of the
charming old town as 1t is today, and OF
estates in its vicinity. In commission
ing Miss Johnston to undertake this
| pictorial survey Mrs. Devore did well, for
the studies shown are not mere photo
graphic presentations but works which
interpret the spirit of the place, works
rendered through the medium of the
camera with maximum artistic feeling
and suggestion.
Miss Johnston has long been known
as one of the leading Photographic pic
torialistS in this country. In fact, her
work Is considered by many that Of a
pioneer. Undoubtedly few have rem
dered larger service than she in demon
strating the possibilities of the camera
as medium of artistic expression and
at the same time as a faithful witness
to facts
The hundred or more prints now on
view at the Library of Congress have
not the appearance of ordinary photo
graphs, but rather of photographers, be-
ing printed in soft gray on paper with a
slightly rough surface. The effects that
she transcribes Of sunlight and shadow,
OF atmosphere, even in some instances
OF color, through nice adjustment of val
ues are extraordinary. 1t would seem as
though she had invariably secured CO.
operation from inanimate things and
climatic conditions. Her photographs Of
little houses are charming to the far
thest degree and her presentation of the
dignif1ed old homes, especially of
Chatham. with its exquisite setting, are
no less sympathetic. Miss Johnston
shows us both small and great, interiors
as well as exteriors, so that one gets
from this display real sense of the
flavor of place, of the life that was lived
in the past and is lived today; and
therefore ner WORKS are not only pic
torial data, but historical documents.
It is interesting to observe how clev-
erly Miss Johnston has in many in
stances introduced figures in her pho
tographs as incidental to composition.
adding not only to the possibility of
judging scale, but also to the human in
terest. A delightful and most artistic
record.
And now the desire and hope is that
this record may be extended to other
cities and towns of equal historical i'm
portance in other parts of the country
Surely there must be others who realize,
as did Mrs. Devore, what such a record
will mean in the future. II so, the work
will go on.
Meanwhile Miss Johnston has most
generously deposited in the safekeeping
of the division of fine arts at the Lii
brary of Congress not these negatives,
which are Mrs. Devore's property, but
between 5000 and 5000 other mega
tiveS which she has made and which
will henceforth be available to the pub
lie under certain restrictions. These
include among others Miss Johnstons
wonderful series of photographs of
italian and other gardens, and of many
subjects of great import. In a way the
placement of these negatives in the