Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-08

Y HAT is it that distinguishes
H. work of art from a mere Skillful
I'M technical performance? 1t Is
~ hard to say-an tndefnable
spiritual quality which can nei-
ther be weighed nor measured, and yet declares
itself instantly to even the average observer.
FOR example, the water colors by Eliot OHara
now on view at Gordon Dunthornes derive
their extraordinary interest and value not be-
cause they represent unusual places IN Russia
and Labrador, well known places Of excep-
tional beauty in France Spain and elsewhere,
or even from the fact that they are well paint
ed but from that intangible something which
Immediately declares them to be genuine works
Of art To see these pictures is an inspiration
and q refreshmeT1t They are delightful in
color and manner Of rendering-fresh, vigorous,
significant. In their simplicity and 0irectness,
In the spirit Of daring and enthusiasm in which
they are set forth, they are in complete accord
with the spirit and character Of today. But
In stability, in regard Of fundamental princi-
pies, those upon which all good art is built,
they are undoubtedly traditional. Such union
Of the old with the new produces invariably
lAne result
work Of art is essentially personal ex-
preston The more skillful the artist, the more
significant the expression but skill alone is
not sufncient. To copy nature is the work Of
mechanic; TO interpret nature that Of the
artist. These paintings are primarily inteFpre-
tive, but they are none the less true To the
observer they convey the impression Of ac-
tuality, but the manner in which the impress
sion Is conveyed is individual
"A group of these paintings among them
some Of the most interesting works shown
were made in Russia more than o year ago
and during the present season have been cir
culated as an exhibition by the American Fed
Grafton OF Arts. An interesting account Of this
trip, written by Mr.. OHara, was published last
Spring in the American Magazine Of Art In
this article Mr.. OHara emphasized the Inn
pOrtance TO the artist of sympathetic attitude
toward art on the part of the people. This he
found, almost without exception, IN Russia
Nowhere" he said, have been the center
Of street crowds (such as always surround
painters) who were more interested or less In
the way-that Is, with one exception. This
was at NovoroSsisyk, port on the Black Sea,
where the bathers do not wear suits. Bathers,
above all people, have nothing to do for the
afternoon, so when a painter started sketching
many came out Of the water to watch his
progress. They didn't in the least resent being
painted, but my study of "A Thousand Nudes
Included in the present exhibition) suffered
somewhat from the fact that couldn't see
wood for the trees
Mr.. OHara found the racial types and COS
tunes most interesting. Tartars MongOls,
Kurds Georgians, Armenians and others Of the
more northern types were often glad TO pose
In return for the gift of quick sketch. The
Architecture, both in north and south, he says
and shows, is amazing in color and shape,
the mountain ranges of the Caucasus, with four
peaks higher than Mont Blanc even more Cra-
matte than the Alps.
Among the most interesting pictures now on
view here are two of the Volgs-One, Moon
light on the VOlga"; another, "A Daylight
View" the water blue as the sky overhead.
'VOlga Boatmen" is a subject which cannot
fail to attract favorable attention, and two
mountain subjects Ararat from the plains and
. great peak with its head partly veiled by
cloud, extraordinarily impressive.
Among the Labrador subjects it Is hard to
choose. An excellent painting Of an iceberg
"Replenishing the Ice-Box," is out Of the or
binary and very pleasing. Among the Spanish
subjects are two which will pleaSmably haunt
the visitors memory-one of the famous bridge