Evening star., 1941-01-26
Paintings by Robert Gates
G.. w. U. Studio Gallery Has,
JVorLe IN Erb jbifiou

w OThS OIL ELItUtLtOH.
The George Washington Univer-
sitv Studio Gallery is not the best
place in which to see paintings, for,
in the first place, it is so small
that the visitor is literally atop
them upon entering the door, as
we'll as thereafter. and the light
is not all that might be desired.
But this gallery, and its exhibitions,
are purposed for the benefit of those
enrolled in the fine arts depart
ment of the university, and merely
opened to the public as a courtesy,
so we should not grumble. But the
fact remains that pictures that are
worth seeing at all are certainly
worth seeing we'll. This is the least
tribute that can be paid to art as
art.
Robert Franklin Gates painting
is, and has been now for some years,
we'll worth seeing and considering,
for he is gifted-instinctively an ar
tist-and he is, also a very sincere
and arduous worker. In recent years
he has done some mural painting
under Government commission, but
he is first and last a painter of
landscapes, and it is as such that
he is to be seen through his exhibit
ton in the studio gallery.
1t is not remarkable that Mr..
Gates has heen influenced by the
so-called modern school. Because
of his association with the Phillips
Gallery Art School, of which he is
now assistant director, he has come
into close contact with outstanding
examples of works by the French
modernists-but it is not their in
fuence which shows in his works
rather, to the contrary, that of the
painters Of this country-those who
have turned from the idealism of
their predecessors to rather stern
realism "a tell-the-truth-at -at-all-
COSTS" which is to be found not only
in contemporary painting. but also
novels and biographies. The first
impression received by the visitor
on seeing Mr.. Gates current ex-
hibition is his absolute sincerity, to
which is added strength in mode of
expression.
The Is paintings that he is now
showing are almost all in the same
key which, in aggregation, becomes
little monotonous, but they are
quite different in theme He does
not use a high-keyed palette, his
works are not colorful. but in the
matter of tone they are very gen.
orally correct.
Skies Are Luminous.
In two instances he gives very
pleasing glimpses Of luminous or
colorful skies. as seen through
trees, but for the most part his
compositions are in grays and
browns. His trees have the virtue,
not invariably common, of appear
ing to be rooted in the ground
but as rule they are, painted en-
masse and do not possess a trees
most precious possession-individ-
uality of character. With Mr..
Gates, however, there is no question
of evasion of difficulties by means
of short cuts. If he paints in a
certain way it is because that is the
way of his own conviction. Birge
Harrison. the greatest teacher of
landscape painting that we have
had in this country, once said:
Lacking the note of personality, no
real art is possible" Also, ANY art
which is to endure must be true to
the spirit of its own age" Mr..
Gates art is personal and does
belong to his day and generation
therefore commendable-but lurking
just around the corner is the query,
whether after all the artist should
not create the image rather than
reflect it, lead rather than follow?
Perhaps none can say.
Our American landscape painters
have made a record-indeed, they