Evening star., 1935-10-27

property is much more typical OF
America than paintings Of sman-town
beauty parlors." which are much the
same all the world round. Very rem
iniscant Of the sos in dress and ex.
preston are his pen-and-ink draw
ings, Reading Letters From Home at
the Bankers" and "Copyist at the
Louvre" That human nature does
not change or the world turn back
on its axis is evidenced by grimly
humorous drawing Of a procession OF
place hunters" at an Official func.
ton. made as illustration for Com
edies of q Consulate" published by
Harpers in 1896. Thirteen years earlier
in date is a series of character studies
made of German Political Leaders"
none of whom would probably be ac-
ceptable to the Nazis today, or know
themselves in such company. OF the
same year Is Funeral of Little
waif, Paris" full Of pathos and deep
dramatic feeling. While to the year
1889 belong the illustrations to Fran
els Hodgson Burnet's popular novel,
THAT Pretty Sister Of Jose," PEN
and-ink drawings well suited to the
accompanying text, but no better
than need be.
Charles Stanley Reinhart was born
in Pittsburgh in 1874. When he was
18 years of age he went to New York
and earned enough to go to Europe
to study art. He was first In Paris,
then in Munich, but at the end Of
two years his funds ran out and he
returned. Almost Immediately he
found employment at Harpers. stayed
with them continuously until 1876
and worked for them of and on as
long as he lived. His death occurred
in 1896. He was one Of the first to
introduce painter quality" in illus
tration: for that matter his wash
drawings are better than his pen-and-
ink studies, and he undoubtedly did
much to raise the level of illustration
in this country. But he was not as
strong or his style as individual as
that of some Of the men who came a
little later.
From 1881 to 1888 Reinhart had
studio in Paris, painted, exhibited at
the Salon, received an honorable
mention. In 1883. the year he re-
turned home, the Pennsylvania Acad-
emy of the Fine Arts awarded him
the Temple Gold Medal. Reminiscent
of his painting days is the study for
mural painting for the Chicago
World Fair-a seated figure of a
woman in classical drapery-included
in this exhibition. And also presum-
ably study" of woman on the sea
coast standing in a strong wind with
telescope in her hand. But it was as
an illustrator that he attained greatest
fame. Among his colleagues he was
held in high esteem. w. A. Rogers,
a large collection of whose cartoons
and illustrations is on display also at
tn. Library of Congress in adjoining
cases, writes Of Reinhart with utmost
admiration in his book, "A World
Worth While" I'VE used to look for a
new drawing in Harper's Weekly by
Reinhart," he says, cor a new series Of
his in the magazine as an event. His
pictures of Gambetta and other cele-
brities in the French Chamber Of
Deputies were talked about for years."
With all the present-day connection,
art took on more importance in those
days than these. Through generous
gifts-such as this of the Reinhart
drawings and others-the Librarys
Cabinet Of American Illustration"
grows by leaps and bounds. And this
Is well.
TO GET to or pass from the exhibi-
ton of drawings by Stanley Rein
hart in the south curtain hall Of the
Library Of Congress one must pass
through the west hall. in which are
now on display prints by American
and foreign artists acquired for the
National Print Collection within the
past few years, and herein the tempta.
ton to Hnger Is bound to assail the
visitor. There Is an old friend, here
delightful new acquaintance. All
the greed Of possession is born again.
The selection has been made with
great breadth Of sympathy and astute
observation-disclosures and tradition
alist meet in happy accord. With the
storytelling picture, illustrative work
uppermost in ones mind, one Is un-
consciously drawn to an elaborate
figure composition by Jean Donnay,
lie Bourse," and to the series "A
Weaver's Strike" by Kathe Kollwitz,
in which the drama Of life In full
surge Is admirably presented, not
merely stirring the emotions. but
quickening the esthetic sense. The
spark still glows.
tvsk