Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-24
NO[EC QE Ar AND ARILEE[

about this well chosen and nicely arranged
exhibition of American wood engraving Is not
merely the superlative quality Of the works OF
these two men, but the number of engravers
whose works comparatively little known
who have produced works of high order and
technical excellence. How is it, one asks ones
self, that so many were able to master and 50
skillfully employ this extremely difficult art?
The collection is arranged alphabetically By
artists. Therefore, works by Peter Aiken.
born In 1858 and still living, head the list and
serve IS Introductory. To washingtonians, 1t
will be Of interest to note that one Of Peter
Athens engravings Is after drawing by How
ard Helmick, q well known washington artist
Of earlier days. Another one Of Helmick's IL
Illustrative drawings is reproduced by Charles
State, and both reproductions testify to his
excellent craftsmanship, his light artistic touch
and his ability as an illustrator Peter Aitken
also engraved works by Murillo, by Nine lie
Brun and other European masters, as well as
by our own Mary Hallock Foote and the mimi.
table Castaigne Who, familiar with st. Mich
olas and the Century in the 80s and 9Os can
fan to experience q thrill Of delight when COM
ing across works by these much-loved flIustra-
tors Of the past, and how genuinely skillful and
charming they were, fulfilling their obligation
to the author in full measure. experimenting
as well as complementing the text.
Washingtonians viii find special interest in
examples of the wood engraving of W. b Clos
son, who, it will be remembered, married Miss
OF imaginative, colorful themes Here Is his
beautiful engraving Of Reynolds painting Of
little girl and dog, Miss Harris" made for
st. Nicholas and its thousands of devoted child
readers. Here also Is his charming engraving OF
Jenny Lind from a daguerreotype and sympa-
thetic interpretations Of works by Blum and
Others
1t win surprise many to find in this collection
quite q number Of engravings after Joseph
Pennen so definitely is Pennen associated in
our minds today with etching, likewise
graphic art. But Joseph PenneII was first an
illustrator. He went abroad originally to make
drawings for the Century Co. and not etchings,
and it Is these drawings which his engrayer
colleagues have reproduced, among them Robert
C. Collins
Holding high rank among thsse wood engrav-
ers Is Henry Davidson, who was steadily en-
ployed by the Century Co. until at least 20
years ago; John w. Evans, John p. Davis Eth
ridge Kingsley and two women, both Of whom
admirably hold their own, Edith Cooper, born
IN 1890 and Caroline Powell of earlier date One
OF the earliest of all was Fred Juengling from
whom many Of the engravers represented here
learned their art Among the interesting ex.
amples OF his work shown in this collection is
"A Little Boot-Black," painted by Chase Gus
tav Kruen Is represented at his best in an en-
craving after Edward H. Blashfield dean OF
mural painters, entitled His Lordship's Break
fast doubtless painted as an illustration for
st. Nicholas. Mention should also be made of
Frank French, Haider and Thomas johnson,
all OF whom were pioneers in the art, and not
only instructed younger men but gave them
employment~-puryeyors Of wood engraving to
authors and publishers. And stiIl there are
others, such as Henry Marsh William H Morse
stephen Greeley Putnam, wellington Whit
ney. Sylvester and King, Of more or less even
merit but various style
IL IS interesting to observe in connection with
the works of these engravers the extent TO
which they almost involuntarily seem to have
reflected the art of those whose works they
reproduced, for when In rare instances the en-
cravings are made from photographs instead
OF original paintings, they fail far short in
artistic merit To this there is perhaps but one
exception-that Of 3 portrait engraving of John
c. Nicolay by Thomas johnson, which is vital
and very engaging. Quite as interesting in its
way Is his engraving Of the portrait Of Frank r.
Stockton, the writer, from painting by John
w. Alexander
The 2o2 prints in this exhibition are for the
Continued on E;obfao1fh u1~o