Evening star., 1933-05-20

Humorous condemnation of Diego Ri
vera's inclusion of Lenin and conSpicu-
Gus red flags in the decoration of the
Rockefeller Center Is the public's chief
reaction to the situation which resulted
in the Mexican artist losing his job
there The question of his obligation
to those conducting the enterprise is
lightly treated in various phases.
He paints what he has mind to
paint" says the Louisville Courier
journal. putting into the picture his
own conception of life, moral convic-
tions, estimates of men and social
theories. They may be right or they
may be wrong, and 1t is a far-reaching
assumption that art validates every
thing it covers. Indeed, there wasn't
a thing in the group remotely to SYM
belize human intelligence in control of
the forces of nature subject fit only
for ironic treatment and, in so far as
intelligence utilities the forces Of ma
ture, restricted to research science. Art
or no art this was propaganda. It
should be allowed to remain, however,
net out of reverence for art, but for the
glorification of the American sense of
humor. Bolshevism depicted on so
magnificent a scale in Rockefeller Gen.
ter becomes the apotheosis of the comic
strip"
How did it happen that an artist of
well known communistic sympathies
was hired for the work in the first
place." asks the Providence Journal,
with the further statement: "The sit
uation is grotesque in the extreme. A
portrait OF Vladimir Ilyich, otherwise
inent capitalistic wall for all the world
to look at! 1t certainly does seem like
pushing communistic propaganda too
far. If capitalism could stand for that,
how would Senor Rivera like to go to
Moscow and paint a mural portrait OF
Mr.. Rockefeller in the Kremlin?"
Noting that crowds of unemployed
people are in the background, waving
red flags" the Des Moines Tribune
remarks: Here is surely proof of
Rivera's artistry Anybody who can
paint people with such skill that the
beholder knows at glance whether
or not they have jobs must surely be
a great artist" The Indianapolis
News suggests that like Mr.. Dick of
Dickens David Copper1eld,' who was
Charles out of his manuscripts, Rivera
found himself unable to keep the head
of Lenin out of a conspicous place in
one of his murals" That paper Is
convinced that arguments in favor of
the use of art for propaganda'S sake
may have the effect Of arouSing popular
feeling in favor of art for arts sake"
The Charleston IS. c. Evening Post
argues that certainly it is not good
art to pervert an entire conception"
and that Rockefeller Center is no
place in which to apotheosize COM
munism"
AN old question arises" to the mind
Of the Oakland Tribune, which offers
the query and comment: May the man
of talent. welding brush, put upon
wall or canvas that which he wishes
to portray or must he be expected to
follow the desires of those who pay
him for the effort? Five or six hun
dred persons who hold to the theory of
art for arts sake and free hand to the
painter. expressed themselves in the
typical manner by parading. Others
will prepare speeches and articles or
sponsor debates. Rivera, who has been
in controversy before and knows the
values In the same, will be subject of
for many moons"
"A piece OF impudence which