International studio (25.1905)

7?W
taneously with a million facts, and leaves us to
choose a few dozen which in combination, un-
hampered by those omitted, reproduce upon the
retina of the observer something of the inspiration
w'hich ied the artist to his choice.
The same comments are naturaily suggested by
another plate with a similar title, a
though perhaps most connoisseurs will
think that the latter is a much finer work of art.
Taking a comprehensive glance at the whole
group of plates, we feel that their merit lies
artistically in their drawing and arrangement, and
technically in the success with which the leading
lines are carried through and the heavy bitings
accomplished. There is nothing tentative, nothing
imitative, and nothing poor. The irresistible force
with which the correct note is struck reminds us
of the certainty of touch of a great violinist.
There must, of course, be plates, which have not
been exhibited, in which the artist has failed, for

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each venture is an experiment, but the standard of
achievement is high, and in etching, at least, if not
in everything, a man must be judged by his best.
Mr. East stands, if not alone, at any rate an
important member of a small band of original
etchers who are striving to show that examples may
be produced in landscape, of a dignified size and
decorative character, with all the merits of smaller
plates by other men, and something more, and to
carry forward in this art the banner on which is
inscribed beauty, individuality, and freedom.
WO ITALIAN DRAUGHTS-
MEN. ALFREDO BARUFFI
AND ALBERTO MARTINI. BY
VITTORIO PICA.
IF Italy has succeeded during the last few years
in emulating other nations in the matter of illus-
trative reproduction, wFat has been done in this
way has had but little re-
lation to art, save that of
being its complete nega-
tion. The fault has been
entirely, as must be frankly
confessed, that of the
publishers and magazine-
editors ; for instead of
employing artists specially
qualified to decorate their
pages with some regard
for aesthetic considerations,
they prefer to have recourse
to inferior draughtsmen,
who are intellectually
slovenly; or else, when they
have a genuine desire to
impress their readers, they
turn to some well-known
master of the brush, excel-
lent in his own sphere,
but quite a novice at illus-
trating.
Yet Italy is not destitute
of young artists, wTo, as
I have more than once
pointed out in my criti-
cisms, if they were wisely
set to work by publishers
and editors, might soon
rehabilitate the art of illus-
tration in their native
country, rendering it worthy
of a place of honour
137



"THE EDGE or A W'OOD"

FROM THE ETCHtXG BY ALFRED EAST