Evening star., 1934-04-29


In the Corcoran Gallery Of Art with
q private view last Tuesday, Is, from
many angles of outstanding interest.
The experiment which is the source OF this
exhibition is unique in kind and magnitude.
II has never been tried before in the field
of art by any government. Primarily, 1t was
conceived as relief measure which has de-
termined to a great extent its character.
Government commissions for art have, as
rule been awarded to artists OF achievement
and distinction. 1t was for the most part
the unknown artist who in this instance was
given employment And how many there
werel During the course OF this experiment
ebeg1n early in December and now practically
ended, $500 artists were put to WORK at
living wage. There are on exhibition In the
Corcoran Gallery of Art at the present time
approximately 500 paintings, etc, produced
by these artists, but this number Is but
fraction Of the total number called into exist
ence In fact. these 500 works were chosen
from among $4,000 produced. Under these cir
cumStances and conditions, what could one
expect? Something less good no doubt than
obviously was obtained It Is for the econo-
mist to discuss and decide whether or not
the large sum of money paid these artists
for their work or works was well or Ill spent.
SIhe works produced have all become the prop
erty of the Government and are to be placed
in public buildings public storerooms accord
ing to the will of Government officials.
song is sung or played and floats away ON
the air. but not so painting or work IN
sculpture. It remains to be cared Tor and
to witness to the success or failure OF It's
author As to whether or not the artists who
have produced these works might have been
better employed is question not for the public
to decide or the art critic, but for those who
are wise tn matters pertaining to sociology.
The works have been produced, have been
Judged by those appointed by the Govern
ment to serve professional advisers, and
presumably the best or a cross-section OF the
best is now on view. What Of them?
In the first place, let it be understood that
all of these artists were instructed to pro-
duce works which set forth the American
scene, and that any work that did not conform
to this requirement was thrown out. Under
this mandate, for example, nudes were not
accepted; neither. in most instances. were
flower paintings which might have been pro-
duced anywhere at any time Therefore,
it Is a fair question to ask, in viewing this
exhibition whether the American scene as set
forth therein was defined by the artist or
those who made the selection Of works to be
shown. We hear much today of ''the public"
whose will Is law, "the public" that demands
a sordid play, an inferior movie Jazz and other
cheap stuff, but is not there than one
public and II so, which public are we to cater
to or to consider as typical?
That the American set forth in
this exhibition are essentially Of the generic
Main Street" type no one who has given the
exhibition careful study can deny. No doubt
Main Street" is an essential part of America,
but it is not all America, and there are few
instances in this exhibition in which the
vulgarity of contemporary life and the sordid-
ness Of contemporary scenes are dealt with
either humorously significantly. In fact,
remarkable thing that this exhibition evil
dences is that the majority Of the painters
have given themselves to reproduction of things
h-seen and have produced works primarily Illus
trative and literal We are reminded again
and again that this is a machine age and
that we are materialistic people, but If this
element is going to dominate our art, there Is
little hope ahead for us nationally or indi-
viduaIly.
The responsibility for many ills has been
laid at the door of depression. 1t Is not un-
reasonable to suppose that the artists outlook
has been affected thereby. Poverty, extreme
poverty, not only cramps ones style, but ones
vision and it is a well known fact that many
of the artists whose works are included In
this exhibition were not only unemployed in
December, 1888, but had been unemployed for
months before that date.
Recalling this fact, the wonder Is that SO
much virile work was obtained, and the thought
occurs that If we force American artists
to live among slum conditions with scarcely
enough to keep body and soul alive, We can
not complain If they paint ignobly. The
marvel is that they paint at all.
No one could see this exhibition, set forth
under Government auspices and comprising
works by comparatively unknown artists with
out amaZement at the technical competence
shown. It is not the work of amateurs and
weaklings. For the most part the paintings
shown, and almost without exception the
sculpture set forth, virile. That the
craftsmanship is often not good as it should
be- is regretable, but the blundering is more
often, it would seem, because of Indifference
p-rather than inability. What these artists have