Evening star., 1937-01-16

by Aaron SOpher, t0hO Is 7lO1D e1
good laugh. This is the case with
Lafayette Square, Christmas, 1885,"
showing rear view Of the Jackson
Statue; Water Gate Concerts" Of last
Summer, several drawings Of the
"Cheer Center, Baltimore" where
down-and-outers amuse themselves
lstlessly In a room displaying bulletins
announcing Q "Cheerio Bible Glass"
on Sundays.
Occasionally Mr.. Sopher portrays a
specific person, as in his excellent
likeness Of Maxim Gorky "a straight
forward portrait), and his telling cap
lures in caricature Of John Lewis,
Herman Goering and Hitler. But in
most instances his heroes" are types
-rst-fsced race-track touts, cigar
chewing political bosses, bony old men
endeavoring to hide their senility with
q rakish air: leering sports" in a
burlesque show: sailors ashore with
their girl friends" Some of his fa-
vorite "heroines" are corpulent dow
ayers, staring through lorgnettes. He
depicts many lunch-counter and res
taurant scenes, where his models all
feed instead Of eat. And he gives a
new twist to the cruelty to children"
theme, in several representations Of
infants In the arms Of people obvi-
ously not their parents, but apparently
baby-kissing politicians, hideous old
grandmothers and others who would
seem sufficient to incite q child to
permanent Mysteries.
Mr.. Sopher Is native Of Baltimore,
born in 1905, and obtained his educa-
ton, both general and art, In that city.
He attended the Baltimore Polytech-
mic Institute and the Maryland Insti-
tute Of Fine and Applied Arts, ma
joring In fine arts and illustrating.
He has exhibited in various places in
Baltimore: the Maryland Institute, the
Friends Of Art Chaving been the re-
cipient Of its Welson Livering Smith
Memorial prize for etching in 1880,
the Museum Of Art, Women's Club Of
Roland Park, and the Junior League
Gallery: he has also exhibited at the
New York Public Library. and Studio
House, Washington, D. c. His draw
ings have been published in the Bal
timore Evening and Sunday Sun (and
have won first prizes and several hon.
orable mentions in the Suns annual
sketch contests; the New Yorker,
Golfers, Life, Sportsman and New
Masses, and he has been rep
resented in the third and fourth New
Yorker albums. He has worked on
the c. w. A. Art Project, drawing in
q c. c. c. camp, New Germany, west
ern Maryland, 1894, T. T. A P, under
Works Progress Administration. Some
Of his work In the present exhibition
was lent by the Treasury Department
Art Projects. F. L. B.
Three Water ColoriSts
Exhibit In Georgetown.
IN THE Little Gallery Of the Init
mate Bookshop, 1904 o street,
Georgetown, there opened on Janu-
ary 6 an exhibition of watercolor
paintings by three artists, Mrs. Philip
CONN, Mrs. Frank Let's and Col. Fitz-
maurice lay, to remain until Neb-u-
cry 6. Esca artist nas conU.aoCJec
- ca-.Gl..yS 70 Gae cN.-o!Lcc OF 3j.
o.e.-c. - s.oScc a. one E-oCl Co..
Day. .o-.e..y rni.1Ia.5 avsc.ae o; Iae
British Embassy, took up SIT sppsr-
ert!y as s. avoc2ttor. s.c S entirely
se...taug.t. Ms. let's studied wit.
Robert Franklin Gates Of Studio
House, and Mrs. Coffin studied abroad.
At the preview and tea on January 6,
attended by distinguished guests from
diplomatic and social circles, II paint
for reproductions.
Mrs. Coffin and Mrs. Let's show
similar taste in subject matter, favor
ing old houses. barns and industrial
buildings, stark trees, etc. Col. Day
shows the larger number Of land
scapes and betrays a taste for sub
jects attractive in themselves, such
as the old houses of Charleston, s. c.;
Florida landscapes with feathery
palm trees, and colorful skies and
marshes. He travelled extensively last
year, to Judge by the localities Of his
paintings dated 1936-Canada, South
Africa, Baltimore, Charleston, unless
perhaps he painted some OF these
from earlier sketches. Two Of the
best Of his paintings are Silence
Rock Creek" depicting snow-laden
branches interlacing In interesting
pattern over the Snow-choked creek,
and "Dogwood," branches in the fore
ground through which one sees a |
vista Of an old barn and trees. In |
naturahsm OF form and color and
precise handling, Col. Days paintings
generally, are Enthusiastically Eng
ush.
Mrs. Cofn's painting is broadest in
handling, most simplified and also
with the exception Of her Lake
Como") deepest in color tones Of the
works shown. There are seven or eight
pictures of Georgetown by both women
painters. Mrs. Cofin's Little Yellow
House, Georgetown" Is one Of her
best, also her Corner Shop, George
town." with its strong reds and
mustards. OF Mrs. Let's work,
'Twenty-Ninth Street." Along the
Water Front" and "Old Barn" are out
standing.
Local Etchers
Make Fine Shouting.
THE Society Of Washington Etchers,
= organized In 1888, is currently
exhibiting a prints at the Mount
Pleasant Branch Of the Public Library.
Thirteen artists are represented. with
from one to three prints each. Several