Evening star., 1935-12-08
Lery Of M

director of the National Gallery Of
Art has little time for print making,
contributes a little etching of
steamer, the ''Matanza,' ,'' at dock, made
some years ago but not previously
exhibited, one of his -enviably
good.
From c. Allen Sherwin. secretary Of
the society, and Mr.. Tolman's able
assistant. has come dry-point por-
trait Of the late Dr.. Walter Hough,
which is not only a most excellent
likeness, but tour de force, comparing
favorably with Tuttles portrait in the
same medium of Conrad.
An excellent etching of Mount Yer
non Is shown by j. Himmelheber-
good in line and conserving the spirit
Of place to an unusual degree. Hirst
Milhollen has four prints to his credit,
Of which perhaps most successful is
one of houses, "Ellicott City, Mary
land" Virginia Parton shows an
attractive etching of Christ Church,
Alexandria"
Minnie L. Briggs, who was most
instrumental in the founding of this
society, is at her best in Iris in Rain"
and Summer I.ilacs." Weston Morley
Geety, who is a newcomer to Wash
ington, architect as well as etcher,
shows two prints-one of the "Tuille-
ries' gardens. very sensitively and
successfully rendered. Mary Wilson
Balls Road to Maum Patz" is South
ern in favor and attractive, and
Edwin A. Cassedy'S color etching
Oxen Run" is a no less pleasing
Winter picture, snow-covered ground
and ice-edged stream seen under a
cold. blue sky.
These prints, intrinsically so attrac-
tive and artistically so meritorious, are
priced very low. They should make
good investments, yielding dividends
of pleasure and in permanent worth.
THE Mahonri Young exhibition,
which opened in the Smithsonian
Building last week, is worth more
than a trip across the Mall on a cold,
windy day to see. Mr.. Young has not
a light touch nor a sensitive line, he
is not an impeccable craftsman, and at
times he blunders, but no one could
see these 81 etchings by him now on
view without realizing that he is a
very real artist and man with indi-
viduality and power.
A few of the prints must have been
made years ago in Paris. Number l
of the catalogue, The Pirate" is as
French as it could be, recalling some
of the masters of the old school; PRO
file, Head of an Old Man" re-echoes
Rembrandt; Little Ballet Girl" is
reminiscent of Degas; but when the
etcher returns to this country and
the west he is himself and no one
else. "Hopi Corral With Passing
Storm" is a dramatic subject magnif1-
Gently rendered. "Burro and Juniper
Tree" Is very effective in pattern;
Navajo Water Place" 'The Watering
Trough" Navajo Lookout" Three
Navajos," are all very fine prints,
rugged as BELTS the subject, sustained
in strength throughout. rendered with
obvious sincerity. Nebraska" long
panoramic scene, exactly interprets
the feeling of the open prairie coun-
try-and some of the same sense OF
space and limitless horizon is found
in Nebraska Farm Horses"
Perhaps truer pictorial records OF
our Western country have not been
made than these. Certainly they give
no odds to the 'tenderfoot" or the
teller Of big tales" But Mahonri
Young was, it will be remembered,
born in Utah and reared on the
plains-the West is his. Three of this
etcher's prints, reproduced by the
American Artists Group as Christmas
greeting cards, are included in this
collection. They, as well as some Of
the other prints on view, are signed
not with his full name, but by his
given name alone, Mahonri. Mr..
Young is expected in Washington this
week in attendance at the meeting Of
the National Gallery Commission, Of
which he Is a member.
TN VIEW of the meeting of the Ma
tional Gallery of Art Commission
here in Washington this week-the
first meeting since Mr.. Melons munif-
icent gift of $1o,ooo.ooo for a build
ing for National Gallery of Art was
announced-it may be interesting to
review briefly the development and
status of this institution. In 1S46 the
Smithsonian Institution was founded,
with art, one Of four grand divisions,
included in the contemplated scope Of
its activities. As the result Of de-