Evening star., 1944-12-10
By Leila MechHn.

The Division of Graphic Arts of
the National Museum is showing in
its small gallery in the Smithsonian
Building a collection of dry points
In color by Mortimer Borne of
Brooklyn, New York, which are
unique and very interesting, espe-
cially to print makers and collectors.
AS early as the 17th century ex-
periments were made in color print
ing from intaglio plates-meaning
those In which the design is cut be-
low the surface as for instance etch-
ings and engravings. In most in
stances, however, the early expert
menters used only one plate whereas
Mr.. Borne uses three-some times
four-one for each Of the primary
colors and occasionally also black.
His first step is to cut his plates
all three in identical design. The
medium employed is dry point be-
cause Of the freedom allowed and
hexibility. From first to last he
keeps the final result in mind mov-
ing slowly, but persistently, toward
his original conception. He de-
scribes his method as follows:
"On the first plate I cut the lines
that are to appear yellow and those
that combine with blue or red or
both. On the second plate I cut
those lines that are to appear red
and those that combine with yellow
or blue or both. On the third plate
I cut lines that are to appear blue,
and those that combine with yellow
or red. The three plates are linked,
each with its separate color, and
printed successfully on one sheet
of paper to obtain the finished
print"
Resemble Painfines
Quite naturally the effect pro-
duced Is more that of a painting
than a print, for the lines which
provide structural strength prac-
ticaAy disappear as one color over
lays another. For this reason it is
difficult to reproduce these prints
through Photographic process the
color then being lost and the lines
appearing or reappearing - with
undue emphasis. 1t Is the subtle
adjustment of color values which
gives these prints their particular
interest and charm.
Mortimer Borne is a native of
Poland, but a naturalized citizen of
the United States. He studied art
at the Academy of Design in New
York and is a member of the So
ciety of American Etchers, with
which he has exhibited regularly.
An exhibition of his dry point in
color was held last spring In the
New York Public Library.
Choice of Subject
The subjects that Mr.. Borne has
chosen for his prints have been
found in many places-placed where
he chanced to be it would SEEM
the seaside, on inland lakes, in town
and country-portraits, still life,
people in groups and apparently
unconscious of the artists presence.
All are factual but relevent of the
print maker.
BY way of demonstration Mr..
Borne has included in his exhibition
a plate in process-one printed in
yellow ink, one in blue and one in
red, with the finished product. In
this there is a suggestion of the
influence of Cezanne, and in other
plates there is intimation of infiu-
ences of even more radical nature.
But even so this print maker is as
rule frankly himself. His little
portraits are excellent, his manipu-
lation of blues exceptionally notable.
That the process employed is diff
cult goes without saying and one
may be inclined to ask why, if these
prints look like paintings, should
they not be painted? The answer,
of course, is that the artist has
chosen this medium that he en-
ploys so well for himself as best
fitted to express his desires. This is
fortunate and true of all avenues to
art-otherwise all art would be of
the same character-utterly monot-
onous. In but rare instances does
MIR. Borne seem to have carried his
experiments too far. The exhibition
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