Evening star., 1944-12-31
By Leila MechHn

The Society of Washington Art.
lists Saith annual exhibition. which
opened in the Corcoran Gallery O.
Art last Sunday, is exceptionally in.
teresting. Modern in spirit, it i!
also surprisingly conservative IL
fact and thus witnesses incidentally
to the unity of all art that is sincere
and purposeful.
There are, to be sure, wide differ
ences to be noted in manner ano
viewpoint. But that is true today
in all fields of endeavor in which
personality is a dominant element
IN the field of art, as will be seen
here and elsewhere, the tendency
OF late has been to underestimate
the importance of technical pro-
flciency and to stress ugliness rather
than beauty. The masters of the
past attained to highest distinction
by concealing their art rather than
by forcing it upon the observer
Modern paintings are inclined to be
much too panty to permit the me-
dium to be overlooked even by those
making merely casual survey. There
is certainly something to be said for
the delight of just paint on canvas,
as the leading modernists have
pointed out. but this is only true
when the paint has been SO skillfully
applied that all sense of effort is
obliterated.
Taken all in all, the paintings in
the current exhibition are inclined
to be bit too obviously panty, but
they compensate for this in a meas,
ure by being charming in color ane
direct in statement. The effect i
good. the arrangement and hanging
excellent. Primarily this is an art.
lists show, the works on display ap.
parently having been done because
of the urge for expression, the desire
for exploration and discovery. Fol
this reason the collection is thought.
provoking and significant. The
whole story of art has not yet beer
told, it is still in the making, there
is yet far to go. For this reason
the going is important, the roads
many and devious.
Subjects Veil Dipidcd
The collection now on view is
about equally divided subjectively
There are portraits, figure paint
ings. landscapes and still life COM
positions. The president of the So
ciety Rowland Lyon. is represented
by a portrait of his wife done very
simply. almost on a single plane
and skillfully. Lloyu B. Embury S
portrait of young girl. Virginia,
has much to commend it, especially
in the matter of color. B. F. Tyng's
portrait of Sophie reverts frankly
to tradition but bends little bit
toward overemphasis on the tech
ical side 1t is not easy to tread
the strait and narrow way" in art
as in conduct, without stepping of
now and then on one side or the
other-both of which, We are led to
believe, lead to destruction.
Sketch of a Young Clown" by
Jessalee B. Sickman. was awarded
the Alice Barney prize for por-
traiture. and for strength vigor ano
forbrightness of execution. vel
merited the honor. 1t is interesting
to compare it with the portrait ot
Laura. With Necklace by Mrs
Barney. lent by her daughter by
whom the prize was donated. be-
cause the one is so essentially oI
today. the other of yesterday. Mrs
Barney. it will be remembered, wa!
at one time pupil of Whistler ane
his influence is discernible in thi,
engaging work
Reverting to the painting by Jes.
salee Sickman there is anothe,
painting of circus clown in thi!
exhibition. smaller canvas bu
very effective. 1t is by Paul LIE.
land Thompson and is entitled
"Soliloquy"
City Pictures
Among those showing city pic
lures is Wells Sawyer, whose mem.
bership in the Society of Washing.
ton Artists dates back to its founda-
ton. The painting by which he
is represented is entitled Late Aft.
ernoon on Capitol Hill and wa.
painted when spring had trans.
formed the outlook. In FRESHNESS.
and charm this is uneXcelled.
Shef1ield Kagy's Indian Summer,
and the painting by Garnet Jex
Eastern Carolina" are both color.
full, well composed and pleasing
pictures with which one would like
to live, as is also "Beale's Wharf
Virginia" by William F. Walter
which pictures a blue day on tide
water the skv and haY azure thf