Evening star., 1933-10-08

the caricature forces the idea into prominence.
Every one knows what extraordinary use was
made Of caricature during the great war. the
greatest of all the caricatures Of that period
being Raemaekers. Think, too. Of the infiu-
ence that Daumier exerted, his wonderful in
terpretations of the life of the common people
Of France
The essentials of carcature have been said
to be nrst, to get at the soul or pith Of the
subject; next, simplicity Of expression; then.
statement, with a minimum Of explanatory
text; finally the expression by the artists in
his work Of kindhness or irony the satirical or
the sardonic, and always humor. These char
acteristcs were possessed in common by such
men as Hogarth Du Maurier. Phil May. George
Cruikshank, Tennel, and many others. Goya's
caricatureS have become classics; Gavarni'S
and in this later day, Forain's are much sought
because Of their artistic value. Such q publ
cation as Punch has helped to keep this art
alive, and alive it is in this country as in
England and France in spite Of the less sig
nifcant comic strips. Works of such carica-
turists as Groth are not merely funny. They
are profoundly human. They may expose the
foibles Of life but they do not debase life.
There are 81 prints in the current exhibition.
Thirty-five are drypoints. six are etchings, two
aquatints and the rest Autographs But after
all the medium does not signify so much as
the manner The majority of these prints are
of men and women and children belonging to
the extremely poor class. the "low-down." as
one of his drypoints is actually entitled. Yet
withal these people have . certain swagger
all their own. Theirs is q hard life. tragicaly
hard, but it is not lived on a single level. it is
not without its humor.
The word "caricature," we are told, means
an overlooking, in other words, overemphasis
on some particular thought or feature. Mr..
Groth has overloaded some Of his drawings.
such as "Out Of Chaos Comes . Rising Star:
Nietsche' and Oats Bound" in q thoroughly
delightful manner. Another print who Said
Land O. the Free?" pictures dog catchers
bringing victims into their cart. Two for
Five, Three fox Ten.' is an apple-woman. The
humor in "Ach, Does Beer Make You sleepy?'
does not have to be explained, nor does
Lamb for Stew"
But after all, John Groth has not only a
seeing eye and . very sensitive funnyb
but also the gift Of craftsmanship. He draws
apparently not only easily and well but with
economy Of line. His drawings effectively tell
their own stories.
October %. The majority Of the prints shown
can be purchased and at very moderate prices.
THE Public Library is opening the current
] season with q round Of exhibitions. not only
in its central building at Eighth and K streets.
but in its northeastern and southeastern
branches. and its Takoma Park building The
three branch libraries each have exhibits Of
paintings by Washington artists.
At the northeastern branch there are land
scapes by Beulah Weaver and Angela Hurd.
At the southeastern branch there are flowers
and still life paintings by II local painters.
among whom may be mentioned Lillian Moore
Abbot, Hattie E. Burdette. Margaret Casey.
Mathilde M. eisenring, Rowland Lyon, Ruth
Osgood Emm% Duel Rice, Robert Franklin
Gates. Ruth Porter Ward, Kathleen Wheeler
apd Angela Eturd
At the Tak,,ma Park branch there is on view
. group Of portraits by such well known locsl
portrait printers Richard E. Meryman.