Evening star., 1947-04-13

Two precursors of modern art
Paul Gauguin and Edward Munich,
will undoubtedly become better
known in Washington because of the
opportunity presented by the large
exhibition of woodcuts, Autographs
and etchings recently opened at the
National Gallery of Art, to remain
through June /. Gauguin's. prints
are loaned anonymously; the graphic
work Of Munich is part of the gal
lery's Rosenwald collection.
Gauguin has become, in popular
Imagination, legendary prototype
of the impractical, romantic artist.
He rebelled against the orderly life
of a businessmen. shrugged off his
responsibilities and escaped the
disease of civilization" for a little
while by sailing away to the remote
island paradise of a primitive race
where life was comparatively simple
and happy. The dramatic incidents
of his biography overshadow, in
popular interest, his contribution to
modern art.
Gauguin is linked with Cezanne
and Van Gogh in the postimpres-
sionist trio whose works pointed the
way for later progressive artists.
Cezanne's influence was the major
one; but Gauguin gave impetus to
the development of fiat. simple COM
position and decorative use of color.
He had begun to make prints in
1888, experimenting with wood and
metal. using the traditional print
mediums in an unconventional man
ner. Included in the current show,
are II early Autographs, depicting
scenes in Brittany, Aries and Mar
Unique (first shown in Paris in 1880
printed on yellow paper.
Book Created Sensation
The outstanding event of Gau-
guin's life was his first voyage to
Tahiti in 1891. His photographed
"Noa Noa," now considered a mod
ern classic, created a sensation when
1t was first published. The reader
today certainly gets the impression,
from this book, that Gauguin went
native" successfully and found the
experience idyllic. Most of us would
consider it q nightmare to be
stranded In the midst of a lot of
tropical scenery and surrounded by
an alien race living in prehistoric
simplicity. But "Noa Noa' is truly
literary rhapsody.
During this first trip, Gauguin
made series of woodcuts, number
OF which are also included In the
National Gallery's exhibition. Some
OF them are versions of his paint
ings of the same period. 1.-THE Spirit
Of the Dead Watches" Night" and
Thanksgiving" The first mentioned
Is one Of his most famous paintings, |
recording the revelation of his
frightened and superstitious Tahi-
tan mistress, Tehoura, described in |
"Noa Noa." incidentally, new
edition Of this book has just been
published, illustrated with 36 repro |
ductions of his woodcuts. IA of them
in color; Lear Publishers, Inc; |
$37s0
After a brief return to France,
Gauguin went back to the South
Seas. and died there in 1908. He
did not quite succeed in identifying
himself so completely with the prim-
itive world as he had during his
first sojourn. The gallery closes his
record by showing some of the wood
cuts from this second period in the
tropics.
10 Prints by Munich
Edward Munich is represented in !
the National Gallery exhibition with
40 prints in three mediums. provid-
ing q comprehensive cross section
of his graphic work. There are por-
traits combining the essential fea-
lures Of the sitter with a psyche
analytical Interpretation of charac-
ter, we'll exemplified by the striking
one Of himself.
Munch's paintings and prints do
not represent any sharp or sensa-
tional break with earlier art but are
an understandable development
from 1t. His preoccupation with