Evening star., 1944-02-20

AT
Work of Gitou Knoop
Now on Exhibition
At Whyte Gallery
Bv Leila Mechin.

War is grim and devastating, but
like other evils, offers certain COM
pensations which should not be for
got. Among these, in the present
instance, are the number OF artists
of trained ability and talent which
it has brought to our shores as
temporary residents or refugees
men and women in the field Of art
who, coming here from other lands
overseas, do not come empty
handed but bearing gifts of in
calcuable value. Such Is Guitou
Knoop, formerly Of Paris, now of
this city. who is holding at this
time and until March 8. an exhibi-
ton comprising 80 OF her works in
sculpture in the Whyte Gallery on
Connecticut avenue.
To the little catalogue of this ex-
hibition Rene Batigue, curator Of
the French art collections in the
OlllGCu OVdlCS dIlO iiOW oCtAik co
advisory curator to the National Gal
lery of Art, has contributed an
astute and Illuminating foreword.
''In the works of Guitou Knoop." he
says, there is no parade OF force,
no false emphasis, no pretentious-
ness, but, to the contrary. a sensi-
tiveness 50 profound, so serious, 50
convincing, that one is arrested by
the intense energy that flows from
them"
All Of which a careful inspection
OF the works on view will prove
correct.
DISTINGUISHED attainment.
Here is evidence not merely Of in
herent gift but rigorous training
which alone opens the way to dis
tinguished attainment; not just
cleverness nor sef-assertion, but a
deep-rooted reverence for art which
nghtens labor and seals success. Her
masters have been of the new school,
but great in their own rights
Rodin, Maillol, Bourdelle and Des-
piau-inovators, but now belonging
TO the great tradition, whose works
sl1e has never initiated but from
which she has learned. Thus, prog
ress Is assured.
The sculpture in the current show
ing falls naturally into two divisions
that done in Paris before the war,
mostly in bronze-and that done
since coming to this country, which
is chiefly terra Gotta. To the former
belong portraits of such well-known
personages as Andre Maurois. Baron
Henri de Rothschild, the Duchess of
Windsor and other, with the later
are striking portrayals of great
artists-Katherine Cornell and Serge
Koussevitzky, and, done with equal
cunning and exceptional tenderness,
little heads Of children of we'll
known washington families. Her
range is exceptional. That she has
not failed to receive recognition Isl
shown by the fact that both the
Luxembourg in Paris and the Metro
politan Museum in New York have
acquired copies Of her portrait Of
Nine. Jean Tricoglou, and the Phil
lips Memorial Gallery her head In
bronze of Miss Cornell.
Not to be overlooked is torso in
bronze upon which Guitou Knoop
worked for three years before at
tanning satisfaction, which struggle,
the end more than justified. She is
Invariably a slow worker requiring
for her portraits many sittings. but
when her works leaves her hands it |
conveys to the observer not struggle
but ease in creation. simplicity and
strength. To. all of her work the
sensitive, trained touch gives life
and lasting vitality. Art OF this
order is just sufnciently over the
layman's head to induce the pleas
urable sensation OF stretching up to
grasp 1t.
Water Colors BY Rodix
4 Loan Exhibition.
Through the courtesy Of Col.