Evening star., 1942-04-19
Art
Notes
Fine Exhibitions of
Prints Continue at
Local Galleries
By Leila Mechiin.

by Leila HecHHr.
The avid print collector who
chanced to be In Washington this
month of April must have been
beset with temptation through ex-
cepticnal opportunities for acquisi-
tion. provided by the excellent ex-
hibitions OF contemporary prints
which have been held here, prac-
tically simultaneously at the
National Museum, one at the Cor
coran Gallery and third In Found
ers' Library OF Howard University.
The last OF these has now closed:
the others continue for a week or
10 DAYS longer.
The exhibition in the Corcoran
Gallery OF Art, set forth in cases
In the upper atritrm. consists Of
works submitted by artists through
out the country and selected by
the jury of the Washington Water
Color Clubs 46th annual ex-
hibition. II includes SO prints in
black and white and color and
is varied both in subjective in
terest and media employed. No
one can see and study this collec-
tion without being amazed by the
extraordinary technical facility 10
which the exhibiting artists have
attained.
In some instances the exhibitors
are painters as well as print
makers. For instance here is Eliot
O'Hara, one of Americas leading
water colorists, experimenting in
terestingly and successfully with
aquatint. A few years ago he was
doing block prints by a method he
himself had invented--and with
excellent result. But aquatinting
Is a much more serious matter, by
no means so simple nor direct. In
his print of gulls, entitled Wings"
he shows, however, grasp of the
mediums potentialities and has en-
ployed them we'll Technicalities
ere forgotten in the forceful and
dramatic Interpretation Of motion
and approaching storm,
Much may be said In praise of the
Autographs by Ruth Haviland Sut-
ton OF Springfield. Mass, which are
in style somewhat similar to those
by STOW Wengenwroth, who stands
at the top in this particular field,
but she is listed in the authorita-
tive WHO'S Who in Art" not as a
pupil Of his but of Henry Smell,
painter. Miss Sutton's two views
of Nantucket streets are very
charming. well drawn and pleasing
IN tonal values.
Grace Albee, born at Scituate, in
New England. but now living In
Pennsylvania. is admirably repre-
sented by two very fine wood en-
gravings-her well known "Junked."
which, II will be remembered was
included in the exhibition OF 100
prints selected by the National Com
mittee on Engraving as representa-
tive of the history of printmaking
in America, shown at the Corcoran
Gallery last year and now on
Western Hemisphere circuit under
distinguished auspices, and by a no
less brilliant achievement in the
same medium. The Cider Mill," a
recent Philadelphia Print Club, prize
winner. There is a vast difference
between the wood block and the
wood engraving as is here seen.
Only In recent years has the latter
been successfully employed for orig
inal expression.
In interesting contrast, and at the
same time illustrative of the wood
block at its best, is Wash Day, Nam
tucket," by George Lear. in which a
three-dimensional effect has been
achieved by clever craftsmanship
and cutting.
John Taylor Arms. Washingtonian
by birth, but internationally known
and esteemed for the perfection of
his skill as an etcher, is represented
in this group by q comparatively
recent work-a view of Stockholm
seen from the arcade of one of its
most famous buildings-and also two
smaller prints, which. incidentally,
are priced incredibly low.
1t should not be thought that local
printmakers have been overlooked
either by the jury of selection of
the reviewer. The fact is that of
such there is good representation
including, In addition to Mr.. OHara,
such well-known workers In the
graphic arts as meS Demonet. Min
ME l.. Briggs, Norman T. Ander-
son and Oke Nordgren, each of
whom makes more than acceptable
contribution.
There are not great many figure
subjects, but outstanding are The
Collector" by Hugh Bolts; Waiting
for Papa" by Blanche McVeigh
and Homeless Ones" by Reynold
Weidener. In 'Foothill Farms"
Paula Gerard skillfully combines
figures with landscape and shows
herself fully in command of her
medium--lithography.
There are quite number of color
prints in this exhibition which lend
saiety, II not great deal in SUBJ
stance. Ernest w. Watson. among
the several exhibitors in this sec
tion. seems to have more than others
employed color wood block as a
medium of personal expression.
Others who. however, make engage
ing contributions are Souhonishs
Hersesheimer, Boyd Hanna and
Wsunits Smith.
WGshineton Priafmakers
annual Exhibition.
The exhibition in the National
Museum OF prints. so in number
now on view and continuing