Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-11-06
By Leila Mechlin.


Again "Snow White and the Seven
Dwarfs' have stolen the show
Last Sunday afternoon, when the
Disney water colors for this most
popular production were placed on
view in the printroom of the Phillips
Memorial Gallery. over 400 people
went to see them and more than
half of the exhibits on display were
sold. BY Monday morning no less
than 81 of the water colors were
marked with silver star, which
meant that they had found pur-
chasers. And no wonder! ANY one
would covet their possession. They
are charming and they are extreme
ly we'll done. Not only does the in
nocence but the mischief and mirth
OF childhood shine forth from every
painting. The rabbits and their play
fellows OF the forest wink at you
even while they make wry faces
seeming to know that you will
understand-share the Joke with
them, approve of their naughtiness
And what is more, you do. Lovely
little Snow White is just what she
should bean innocent child. ready
Tor play, trusting, full of wonder and
gayety-but never without a gentle
dignity all her own. But the amaz-
Ing thing Is with what simplicity and
artistry these facts have been made
known-the story told These paint
tngs in water color are on celluloid
the pigment laid on fatty and very
smoothly the figures drawn sharply
and very skilfully in line. And such
line! Always assured, and significant
"a delight to the eye and the senses
This lis art of a very high order,
albeit that the maker, or makers,
probably did not regard it in this
light at all. They had a story to
tell and mechanical limitations to
meet-in the doing art triumphed.
It is curious fact that the great
est use that art has been put to in
modern times-the production of
moving plctures-has, until very
lately, escaped recognition as art at
all. save as perhaps perversion of
the art of drama. Yet the very
name by which the cinema goes in
this country-"moving pictures
gives indication of how large fac
tor the pictorial is in their make
up. Every scene must be designed
by some one, not as background,
but as q component part of the play,
and the fact that these scenes
change as the action progresses
Sn,I1tirljoc tho Jif6nrltioe ;ooolo,,
ably. And yet the names of these
artists and designers are for the
most part as little known by theater-
goers, their chief patrons, or by
painters of still pictures and others
In the field of art, as are of those
who built the medieval cathedrals
and decorated them with sculpture
and stained glass, setting forth
therein the stories of the Bible.
Possibly this may be reckoned to
their advantage-they have a job
to do, and big one, which admits
OF no time for pause to feel ones
spiritual muscles. 1t is not self
expression" they are thing Of,
but the expression of a given theme
But to return to Mr.. Disney and
"Snow White" The announcement
issued by the Phillips Memorial Gal
lery of the exhibition, which, by
the way, continues to November 26,
says that art critics unanimously
agree that Walt Disney and his staff
''have developed new and distinct
form of artistic expression that will
find a permanent niche in the
history of art" and adds, that
museums, art connoisseurs and COL
lectors are acquiring these celluloids
as fast as they can before the linn
tied selection is exhausted. In other
words-Mr. Disney has been found
out by the wise and the learned.
But 1t should not be forgotten that
the children discovered him some
years ago and are still among his
most devoted admirers. Tales have
been told of children who sat
through three or more continuous
performances of Snow White and
the Seven Dwarfs,' and it can be
no easy task to inveigle young visi-
tors away from the current exhibit
ton. But the interesting thing is
that the grown-ups are no less
fascinated. Those who visit it this
exhibition stay and stay. Why?
Because they understand what they
see and are charmed by it.
= Last summer the Universities of
+ California, Yale and Harvard all
gave Mr.. Disney honorary degrees
in acknowledgement of his achieve
y ment and Indebtedness for his gift.
The citation at Yale put Is especially
I, well. 1t referred to the irresistible
and ineffable charm of the way in
: which he had combined the beauti-
! full, the fantastic and the grotesque,"
and then stressed the fact that
through his artful creations he had
brought the joy of deep laughter
TO millions and touched the hearts
OF humanity"-as perhaps have few
in our day.
1t Is this power to refresh and
make happy that one feels most
keenly IN the presence of these little
wafer colors-a handful of the in
credible number made for the pro-
duction-and herein is the great
lesson and appeal. OF the spirit in
r which they are done AZ well ax the