Evening star., 1943-05-09

before this exhibition opened. by
jury composed of Leicester B. Hol
land, chief of the division of fine
arts of the Library of Congress, with
John Taylor Arms. etCher, and Stow
Wengenroth, lithographer, advisers
on purchases made by the Library
from the Pennell fund for the
national collection. These prizes
consisted OF five of 500 each, 10
of $50 each and 80 Of $25 each, all
purchases to become a part of the
Pennell fund collection. The win
ners are indicated by eold stars on
the mats--one. two and three, ac-
cording to award
The winners Of first prizes were E.
Hubert Dienes of Kansas City. Ar,
min Landeck of New York, Helen
A. Loegie of Billingham. Wash.
Thomas Mason Of LYME. Conn. and
Alfeo Verrechia of Providence. R. l.
Three of the works receiving this
highest award were engravings. one
was an etching and one a htho-
graph. The choice in the lower
bracket was. so far as distribution
Of locality and media, typical.
Many Neu' Names.
A thing both interesting and en-
couraging in connection with this
exhibition is the number of new
names among the contributors -
names which are strange as yet to
print lovers as we'll as those who
habituallv visit exhibitions. Indeed
Of the total number Of exhibitors
more than half come within this
category-a reassuring evidence that
in spite of war and sorrow, art
goes on
II is gratifying also. however. to
find in this exhibition the vork-and
fair representation Of it-Of Amer
lean printmakers who have long
since attained not only national but
international renown-Such for ex-
emple as Frank w Benson, Lester
H0rnbv, Alfred Huttv. Robert MIS-
BET. Gordon Grant, Sears Gallacher
and Albert Barker. In this connec-
ton mention may be made of the
fact that among the outstanding OK
hibltors Of earlier days the majority
were painters as we'll as printmakers
"a fact which TO an extent colored
the character of their works
Whereas the majority of the works
in this exhibition will be found con-
servativc, at least in matter of rem
dition. it should be noted that eX-
amples of moderniStic leaning have
been given welcome and place. Here
are prints by Alexander Brook, Ben
ton, Curry and Doris Lee-to men
tlon only a few. who, in invention,
have proved leaders. In short, this
exhibition is not biased by prejudice
but indicative of present trends. the
standard for inclusion being ade-
quacy of skill and genuine art in
expression.
aAs to subject matter. It is as
varied as the technique employed
but for the most part we'll chosen.
Not everything essaved by these
prlntmakers is beautiful nor inspir-
ing, but even in the commonplace
some element of beauty seems to
have declared itself. And this is
well. 1t is temptation to designate
certain prints which especially COM
mend themselves by merit and
charm. But for this, space is lack
ing, and after all it is a matter of
observation-disclosures must Judge
for himself-and the field of choice
Is large and for every one.
Mention should. however, be made
Of three Washingtonians especially
we'll presented-Benson B. Moore,
Eliot OHara and Prentiss TAYLOR
each by two works-and the last, Mr..
Taylor, winner Of one of the third
prizes. In addition to these three
there are nine other entries from
Washington, mostly strangers.
This exhibition will continue until
July l.