Evening star., 1945-10-28
I he Art World
Exhibition of Birger Sandzen's Works
Inaueurates New Art Gallery Here
By Florence S. Berryman

lnaugurates New Art
By Florence S. Bergman )
Birger Sandzen, a great American
artist who came to this country from
his native Sweden more than half a
century ago, has identified himself
so closely with Kansas and the
Rocky Mountain region that the East
gets far too few opportunities to see
his work. Consequently, it is graft
flying that an exhibition of examples
of it in several media was chosen
to inaugrrate the Luther Weeks
branch of the new International
Galleries at 2010 S street on Octo-
Der Is.
More than 40 oil paintings, water
colors, woodcuts and Autographs are
on view, prints making up the
greater part of the show, which is
retrospective of the past quarter
century. Although the collection is
comparatively small, 1t is character
istic. The oils include landscape,
flowers and still life and portrait.
Mr.. Sandzen's adoption Of the
United States came about through
somewhat different circumstances
from those which motiyate the ma
jority of Europeans who come to
America. He was born in Bildsberg,
Sweden, in 1871; grew up In a cul-
tured home and was given broad
education. From the time he was
10 years old, he had private instruc-
ton in drawing and painting, while
pursuing general studies until he
graduated from the College of Skara
in 1890.
Interest in America
He then entered the University of
Lund for the study of French and
esthetics, balt soon decided to become
a professional painter. With this
he studied at the Artists
League of Stockholm under Anders
zorn and Richard Bergh, and sub
sequently in Paris under Aman-
Jean. In the latter's studio more
than half his fellow students were
Americans who aroused the Swedish
artists interest in our country. Con-,
sequently, he accepted a call to teach
at Bethany College, Lindsborg,
Kans., in 1894. There he has re-
manned for more than so years, with
the exception of three intervals dur
ing which he travelled and studied
in England, Germany, France, Italy,
Spain and Scandinavia. He also has
studied and painted in Mexico.
Astonishing as it may seem that
one SO adventurous as to leave the
Old World with its rich heritage and
the mellow life it offered in the '90s
should have been content to remain
where he first settled in Kansas,
actually he has radiated influence
throughout many States with his
teaching and his creation of art.
Leila Machlin said of him recently:
"Birger Sandzen has Lit little
candles of art knowledge and appre-
citation all through the Middle West"
Uses Pure Colors'
Mr.. Sandzen's painting technique
appears to be the logical result of
the period during which he COM
pleted his study Of art in Paris. It
is a modern adaptation of impress
sionism. He says that as a rule he
paints only one coat and mixes his
colors as little as possible. He pre-
fers to place pure colors side by side,
so that their vibratory value is re-
tanned. He eliminates details, paints
broadly and vigorously.
But, admirable as are his paint
ings, some critics feel that he has
perhaps reached his pinnacle in
lithography. His forceful, direct
line, his sensitive rendering of values,
rich blacks, effective contrasts and
patterns of light and dark, give his
prints much distinction. Trees and
rocks, mountains and rivers, skies
and clouds are his subjects. In the
present show, there also are several
Autographs done in Mexico, in which
architecture with Old World charm
and picturesqueness is captured as
surely as is the unadorned face of
Kansas and other parts of the West.
Seeing Birger Sandzen's work, one
Is reminded of his own words: Good
art is the fruit Of adequate crafts
manship and esthetic vision. -"
To interpret we must 60 deep, give
ourselves, all our love, all our
energy"