Evening star., 1948-06-06
Art
Distance Lends
Disenchantment
Unions s Show
By Florence S. Berrymon

The exhibition of water colors,
drawings and tempera paintings by
artists Of Argentina, which opened
q few days ago at the Pan Amer
lean Union, to remain through
June 27, was organized by the
Buenos Aires magazine of arts and
letters, "saber vivir." The artists
represented are said to be some
of the most distinguished exponents
of modern art in Argentina" Criti-
cism Is disarmed by the catalogue
forewords statement that these
works . = while not of great pro-
portions or painstaking execution,
possess the interest of fresh and
spontaneous expression" etc.
Unimpressiveness OF the group as
q whole, and casual execution OF
some (not alb of the works are the
chief criticism I would make, and
those because of the long distance
the show has come. We instructive
" expect more of exhibitions that
have travelled thousands OF miles by
sea and land. The expenses OF as
sembling, packing and shipping an
exhibition from Buenos Aires is so
much more considerable than for a
similar group sent over from, say,
Baltimore, that one wonders why
those responsible for the SHOW
didn't concentrate on getting all
top cream.
Trend Is Conservative.
But putting aside conscious
thoughts OF mileage and other ex-
traneous' details. and considering
the pictures for themselves, one
finds discrepancy between them ana
the comments In the catalogue,
which says these small paintings
and drawings reveal to the Ameri-
can public one Of the most progres.
sive aspects of art in Argentina
If this is a sample OF the Argen-
tines avant garde production, then
art there must be much more con-
servative than it is in the United
states. Antonio Berni's beautifully
executed portraits of care-Wora,
middle-aged man, and a young boy,
would have been at home in Ma
tional Academy exhibition OF
quarter century ago. Father Buffers
pencil drawings, landscape and an
interior, are quite as tradltlonai'
Demetrio Urruchua's three heads
done in different media, are also
conservative, and admirable.
Freer in handling than the above
mentioned, are outstanding f1gure
studies, In water color by Jorge
LARGO. of a bullflghter, and nude
in a library. Norah Borges' water
color of a mermaid, and outline
pencil drawing of young girl, are
classic in their simplicity. Hector
Basalduas Woman and Child" is
also simple and clean cut in execu-
tion. Dominguez Neras Land
scape of Cordova" is another nicely
handled work. I would call all OF
the above painstaking in their
execution; there is nothing dauoy
about them.
Raouel Formers trio OF surrealis-
tic sketches is among the most IN
teresting groups, especlany het
"Icarus," a new Interpretation OF
the classic theme. Aquiles Badls
"Death of Caesar" struck me as sue
cessful, expressing violence In oil.
seonals, and also in expressions Oh
horror on bystanders' faces the
latter not easy to do. Raul Soldfs
tempera paintings of a house have
q romantic atmosphere. Name Ber-
nardo's pen and wash of street
corner is lively and effective.
The show comprises 36 works rep
resenting II artists. After its en-
ragement at the Pan American
Union, the collection will be circu-
lated throughout the United States:
Considering the majority OF gooo
things it contains. one feels 1t Woulo
be very successful, If only 1t coulo
travel without the heavy burden OF
national representation on lts
shoulders.
Baker Retrospective
The Arts Club opened last Sun
day Its last exhibition OF the 1919
season-oils by Samuel Burtis Baker
In the gallery, and water colors by
Charles Shinn. Next month, the
members show will be hung, to re-
main through September.
This is Mr.. Bakers first one-man
show in some years, but he has had
solo exhibitions at the Corcoran
Gallery, George Washington Uni
versity and at the Arts Club. HIS