Evening star., 1936-02-22

place, lately brought back to life
through the generosity of John D.
Rockefeller, jr., and the scholarship
and skill of group of experts work.
ing for some years in the closest CO.
operation.
The restoration of Williamsburg is
a colossal piece of work-and a work
of art a. that. It is one thing to pre-
serve and another to restore. rehabili-
tate, renew. Records had to be searched
out and studied, excavations had to be
carefully made, every available source
consulted, before this charming old
city, the scene of so much that was
vital and dramatic in the establish
ment of life in this country, could be
reborn. In Williamsburg this Winter
the Legislature of Virginia met for a
session for the first time in many,
many years. This was, perhaps, to
create environment, but also to prove
that this Williamsburg is not merely
to be looked at-a show place-but a
place in which life goes on. Mr.. Brown
seems to have had the same thought
in mind in choosing his subjects, for,
according to the catalogue, already
available, he has pictured not only
the houses, but their surroundings and
set forth the city as seen under the
changing conditions of Spring, Sum-
mer, Winter and Autumn. In other
words. this in the aggregate will be
an artists Interpretation, not of the
sights of Williamsburg, interesting as
they may be, but of the spirit of the
place.
Mr.. Brown is member of the So
ciety of Washington Artists and of
the Washington Water Color Club.
He paints, as rule, In rather high
key. with great delicacy of feeling and
touch and also frank simplicity.
Fine Color
Block Prints.
GUsTAvE BAUMANN of Santa Fe
was born in Germany, but has
lived the greater part of his life in
this country. He has the willingness
to take endless pains in order to at
tain a desired end, Enthusiastically
German, but he has at the same time
an originality and freedom of express
sion more often found in those of the
southern Latin races. He has, more
than any one else, employed the wood
block as an original medium of ex-
preston, using it as none other has
used it, in a way entirely his own, and
with excellent result.
Color wood block printing-and
making-were the invention of the
Japanese, and the methods they used,
somewhat modified, have been fol-
lowed by Western artists almost with
out exception. But not Baumann,
The japanese wood block makes much
Of outline-such line demarking the
color area. Baumann, by the use
OF more numerous blocks and re-.
markable care in registering, has no
color boundaries in the way of black
lines. Most skillful also is he in su-
perimpoSing one color on another
and thus creating not only dimen-
sional effects but the illusion of light
and atmosphere. But his prints are
simple, as rule, in composition and
very decorative in effect. Some are
meant primarily as deccrations-all
have an intent which transcends the
things set forth with q truth great
er than reality. As, for instance,
some of his Santa Fe subjects, which
give the exact feeling of the place
and hour. He has tried interesting
experiments with metal leaf as back
ground for blossoming fruit trees
and for flowers, and with great sue.
cess. He employs a certain amount
Of symbolism In kis decorative bar.