Evening star., 1939-01-08
10 Davidson Exhibits His
Work at Whyte Gallery
Lithographs and Posters
Shown in Phillips
Collection
Bv Leila Mechlin.

the event OF cnleI note curing the
past week was the opening, in the
Whyte Gallery, of the exhibition OF
portraits in sculpture Of Spanish
Loyanst leaders, by 10 Davidson,
which occurred on Wednesday eve
ming, with certain unusual features.
To this preview invitations were
issued by Sonora de los Rios, Sonora
de Cuervo and Mrs. Eugene Meyer;
response was requested, with the
clear understanding that by each
person attending donation OF $5,
entrance fee, must be made to the
= Spanish children's milk fund, for
the benefit of which the exhibition
is being held under the auspices of
the Washington Friends of Spanish
Democracy Thus art, under the
cloak of charity, received from So
ciety due homage, and the thralls
of neutrality, which Of late have
been obviously weakened, for the
time being gave way.
10 Davidson is 100 per cent Amer
lean; he likes adventure and fight;
he is devoted to his art and a
sculptor of very real distinction, but
to him man is the most interesting
of all natural manifestations, hence
he turns to portraiture for express
sion, choosing, however, his vic
TINS" or those he would honor,
with the same care that horse
fancier would select a young colt.
It was because of what was transpir-
ing in Spain and his admiration
for the courage and persistence OF
the Loyalist leaders that he went to
this war-torn country to see things
for himself and to do portraits. The
success of his quest, and the fervor
with which he fulfilled his purpose,
are fully manifest in the current
showing.
Included in this exhibition are 10
or II heads in sculpture and 10
drawings, all of which were done in
Spain last July, some at the front
and under fire, after which Mr..
Davidson fingered on for some weeks,
or months, doing work for the war
sufferers, so greatly were his
sympathies aroused. The heads in
sculpture are of President Manuel
Azana, Foreign Minister Alvarez del
Vayo. Gen. Jose Miaja, Dorlores
1barruri (Passionaria), Col. Enrique
Lister, Constancia de la Mora, head
of the Foreign Press Bureau; 1t. Col.
Valentin Gonzalez Gel Campesino), 4,
Col. Juan Modesto and Maj. Milton
Wolff of the Abraham Lincoln
Brigade. To these of leaders has
been added one other-that of a
Spanish peasant-a refugee from
Palencia, Old CASTLE, who repre-
sents, perhaps best of all, real
Spain"-the Spain of both art and
literature-the Spain which has suf-
fered and endured-been defeated
and risen again-yet, strangely
enough, has kept its national char
acteristics come veal or woe.
10 Davidson was precisely the
right man to portry these Loyalist
leaders of Spain, for his work is
inherently strong and elemental;
rough at times externally, but al
ways characterful. These whom he
has portrayed have endured hard
ness, have seen grim sights, have,
as far as possible, accommodated
themselves to terrible conditions,
without loss of determination or
courage. 1t is not a drawing room
group or one which accords with a
social occasion. War is a bestial
business and sets its mark on those
concerned Herewith. This mark is
on the faces of those whom Mr..
Davidson has depicted and doubtless
will always be there-it is unavoid-
able Also 1t should not be forgot
ten that the majority of these lead
ers have come from the working
classes, were indeed close to the
soil, and have brought to their
present tasks simplicity, clear think
ing, force, but not inherited intel
lectuality To this rule there are
exceptions-as. for example, Manuel
Azana, born in the birthplace of
Cervantes, who described himself
as "an intellectual. democrat and
q bougeois." and is accredited with
having kept Spain democracy:
also Constancia de la Mora, born an
aristoocrat with the richest blood of
Old Spain in her veins. who left her
class to throw in her lot with those
who were supposedly beneath her
but in whose cause she had faith,
OF all this her high forehead and
delicately modelled features tell: she
is still remarked for her beauty and
dignity but she is the head of the
Spanish government press service,
the wife Of an aviator in the Loval-
= ist forces and the mother of a child
which has been sent out of the
country for safety.
OF different type is "Pasionaria"-
born to poverty, at one time serv-
ant in a rich merchants house.
married at 20 to a miner, destined
to become leader in the Socialist
party, who, when the crisis of 1886
developed, discovered a gift of ora
tory and in a speech over the radio
held the masses in check. It Is she
who has declared "it is better to die
on your feet than to live on your
knees" To her voice the people
listen enthralled for hours-it has
the magic Of the orator and the
sympathy of a woman who speaks
from the fullness of experience.
or somewhat the same type is
Juan Modesto Guilloto, colonel in
the military forces, who worked as
boy IN a sawmill and Is today
ranked as one of the greatest leaders
IN the Popular Army-still in his
early thirties, calm, assured, persist
ent. After having modelled his por-
trait 10 Davidson is said to have
exclaimed to friend, why, the
Spanish government cannot lose
If you have any doubts" said the
friend, "look at this head of Mo-
desto."
Again 1t may seem that art and
propaganda are closely linked. Per-
haps In the present day they have
become inseparable, and If art is re-
,garded as language, which it un-