Evening star., 1933-05-07

Nuirhead Bone Is one, Cadvallader Wsshburn
b another. Mr.. Bone has achieved his great.
est success in subject compositions, Mr.. wash
burn In portraiture. Indeed, It Is not an exag-
gcratton to say that in some particulars no
finer portraits have been produced since the
days Of Rembrandt than these dry-points Of
CadWallader Washburn's which are now on view
In this city. And how distinctly his Own Is
the method he employs! Had Rembrandt never
Lived Cadwallader Washburn might not have
produced these portraits but his method OF
production is utterly unrelated to that which
Rembrandt employed
For the most part the people who are the
subjects Of these dry-points are of the peasant
class. chosen by the artist because of interest,"
ing characteristics. such, for example Is The
Matriarch" an old woman with scarf over her
nead toothless mouth, but sparkling eyes
. real personality
Mr.. Washburn's method suggests much more
the use of charcoal than pen and ink He has
way OF employing in repetition diagonal lines
out OF the welter Of which he mysteriously
brings not only a face, but . character His
indeed great gift.
MI Washburn does not confine himself ex-
clusively to portrait or figure work. He etches
landscapes houses, streets. and always with
great individuality. To be sure one may find
here and there an echo Of . great etcher Of
the past. Seymour Haden or Whistler but it
Is only sufficient to prove Mr. Washburn's
artistic descent
Malcolm G. Salaman, one of the leading au-
thorities on etching and other prints in Great
Britain. had the following to say Of Mr. WASH
burn when an exhibition Of his dry-points was
held in Paris In June, 1928:
"Cadwallader Washburn's Is . remarkable
personality, compact Of natural independence
dtmdence sincerity. tenacity Of ideals, and q
sort Of cosmic curiosity. and his eagerness for
adventure In strange places and for testing new
and unfamiliar experiences has been amply full
nlIed. Born in Minneapolis he comes of q
well known New England stock his father was
Senator and great builder Of railways and
his uncle. from whom he derives his Chris
ttan name. was State Governor and pioneer
In Northwestern enterprise but, as far as I
know. G. w Is the only member Of the family
who has been distinguished In art. From CAL
laudet College. Washington, where he entered
in 1886 he went with q b. A. diploma In 1890
to the Massachusetts, Institute of Technology
in Boston. There he took up architecture but
the study for him proved so comprehensive and
led him into 50 many side-tracks Of interest,
that he wsAned it further by entering upon the
study of pictorial art at the Art Students
League. New York. and this led him later to the
pictorial Interpretation Of architecture His
principal master was william NJ Chase the
his studies in New York and went to Europe.
going frst to Spain to copy Velasquez 1t the
Prado, and then to Harlem to learn all he
could from copying the pictures Of Frans Halls.
Thus equipped. he made his way to Morocco,
and his "Marche a Tanger" introduced him to
the salon. He was now In love with light and
seeking how best to express its caprices vagaries
and largesses. he became the pupil Of the Span
ish master. Joaquin Sorolla, who was then
painting his famous pictures in which sunlight
Is the prime motive He worked with him un-
til the artistic call of Paris Mred him to the
studio of Albert RQSnard hat fy1n
painter he learned much, including the vivid
decorative qualities of contrasting lights When
Washburn adopted etching his new craft.
he took immediate command Of it, and It
opened out for him new artistic vistas Of the
Italian scene He saw picturesquely his points
Of view were personal, and one can trace in
those earliest plates the influence of Whistlers
Venice etchings but used with so impelling .
charm as to suggest that innately he was an
etcher"
Later, Mr.. Washburn went to Cuba In the
Spring OF 1904 he was in Japan and made "a
plates, comprising scenes in Kyoto, Toxic,
Nara. etc. Later on he visited Siam and the
South Sea Islands, and with only q dog for
company. cruised about from island to island,
drawing as he went During the war he car
ried secret dispatches in Asia. In 1923 he ac-
companied a university professor of science to
the Marquesas Islands staying there for nine
months, making both chronological and ornitho-
logical collections and dry-point portraits Of
the natives. It was after this trip that he
received from his alma mater the degree Of
doctor Of science. He is a great traveller. but
for the last few years he has lived almost un-
interruptedly on the Island Of Mallorca and
It Is there that most Of these works now On
exhibition the Smithsonian were produced.
Never before have they been shown In this
country.
Mr.. Salaman says, in concluding his essay on
Cadwallader Washburn: HE has attained to
such mastery with his dry-point It Is dtfacult
to say what he will do; he Is certain not to
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