Evening star., 1944-01-16
By Leila MechIin.

Dp Lena w eCHttn.
1t is a surprising thing how the
standard of the graphic arts has
been upheld from the early begin
ming in the 18th century up to and
including today. This is not new
discovery but a fact, perhaps too
much overlooked, brought at pres
ent to attention by two current ex-
hibitionS, that of prints from the
Rosenwald collection, on view in
the National Gallery of Art, and
that just opened in the Smithsonian
Building of etchings by Cornelius
Botke of California.
The former, although illustrating
the history of the graphic arts to
date, places chief emphasis on the
works Of the masters, the merit of
whose works time has amply con-
firmed; the latter is representative
Of the skill and achievement of those
living at this time and among us.
The technicalities of engraving
etching, lithography and the other
graphic arts are tremendous, and
yet they are being mastered and en-
ployed not simply well but, in many
instances magnificently by a large
number of adventurers in this field.
This is case when tradition has
been gently merged with the present
without break or jolt. For instance,
while Rembrandt was the greatest
master of etching, with him for like
distinction will always be placed
Van Dyck, Meryon, Seymour Haden,
Whistler and score of others; and
while the wood cuts by Durer and
his colleagues have never been sur
passed in merit or spirit, the art of
wood engraving has been enlarged
In scope and is still being expertly
practiced.
Lakeside Press Exhibition.
Four years ago an engaging and
enlightening exhibition of Goth
century prints was assembled from
several important American collec-
tions by the Lakeside Press and set
forth in their galleries in Chicago
of which beautifully illustrated
catalogue was published. In the
publishers foreWord it was unequiv-
ocally stated that in the whole
history of print making the great
est activity had been in this century
in which we live In order to show
that the activity was of a high
standard, and to direct attention to
1t, the exhibition was held
This, too, was the outcome of an
exhibition of the Rosenwald COL
lection, shown earlier in the year in
the same galleries, which goes to
show how far reaching the influence
of good art may be and how con-
tagious the fondness for collecting
In the Lakeside Press exhibition
almost all the the prints were from
private collections and by living
artists-for the most part masters
in their own right. With prints by
Americans were shown prints by
French and British engravers, etch-
ers and lithographers, all of whom
through personal contribution, were
and are enriching tradition.
1t is no difficult task, as those
familiar with the field we'll know
to list so outstanding Americans in
the various graphic arts, a fourth
as many Britishers and half f-score
Frenchmen, besides a scattering
among those of other nations. From
among these and others constantly
advancing come works which stand
comparison with the best of the
past.
Efchines by Cornelius Botke
The monthly exhibitions of prints
held in the Smithsonian throughout
the season, under the auspices o1
the Division of Graphic Arts, United
States National Museum, admirably
serve such purpose, recurrently in
Producing etchers, engravers and
lithographers to comparatively new
and receptive. public. The art which
used to be cehtered in two or three
large cities of the East is now being
practiced practically in every State
in the Union. No wonder the fielC
Is full of activity" as never before
The exhibitor this month, Cor.
nelius Botke, was born in Holland
and studied in Harlem before com.
ing to the United States in 1906
His first studio was in Chicago anc
his first independent work alone
commercial lines. In the spare time
of evening he attended the Art In.
stitute of Chicago. In 1920 he went
to California, married a young artist
Jessie Arms, continued to paint anc
to etch, and, settling on an apricot
ranch, gave some of his attention
to fruit growing.
Mr.. Botke is an excellent etcher
his line strong but at times very
sensitive. His compositions, too, are
admirable, decorative and yet never
forced. Especially notable are his
etchings of trees, such as "Syca.
more" "Old Oak" and others, beau
tifully drawn, charming in design
In character and treatment Mr.
Botke's tree etching call to minc
those, likewise memorable, because
OF quality, by Ernest Haskell anc
Tfll1Y pa