DOI Heft:
No. 183 (February 1925)
DOI Artikel:The lay figure
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21402#0126
THE LAY FIGURE: ON A MIS-
USED WORD. 0 a 0
" I cannot understand why you fellows
should be always complaining that no one
takes any interest in art," said the Plain
Man. " It seems to me that there is no
subject that is more talked about or that
gets more attention from the general
public." 0 0 0 0 0
" If you had said that there is no subject
about which more silly nonsense is talked
I should, for once, have been prepared to
agree with you," remarked the Young
Highbrow contemptuously. " Unintelli-
gent comment does not imply serious
attention." 00000
" But, my dear chap, look how widely
the influence of art is recognised," pro-
tested the Plain Man. " In evidence of
this, see how business people advertise all
sorts of art products. They would never
do this if they did not realise that artistic
things are in popular demand and that to
satisfy the public taste is a sound com-
mercial proposition." 000
" And you really believe that these
things which are advertised as artistic are
produced to satisfy a genuine demand for
art i " sneered the Young Highbrow. " I
have never credited you with a sense of
humour, but it seems to me that you are
trying to be funny." 000
" Don't be quite so superior," said the
Critic, breaking in before the Plain Man
could reply. " You must admit that a
fair proportion of the things which business
men advertise and offer for sale have some
claim to be considered as sound artistic
productions and fit to appeal to people
of taste. But there is a vast amount of
stuff turned out under the name of art
that has no right to the label it bears. That
it should find a market implies a lack of
discrimination on the part of the public
and a misunderstanding of right aesthetic
principles." 00000
" But it does not imply a want of
interest in art," argued the Plain Man.
" That is my point." 000
" Yes, it does," cried the Young High-
brow : " because if people took any
interest in art they would try to understand
what it means." 0000
I am more inclined to regard it as a
120
result of an ingenious attempt to play
upon the vanity of the crowd," replied the
Critic. " No man likes to be told that he
has no artistic sense, whether he is inter-
ested in art or not; and the people who
really are deficient fall an easj' prey to the
advertiser who professes to offer them art
ready-made." 0000
" But surely ready-made art is better
than none at all," suggested the Plain
Man. 000000
" Wrhat is art i " asked the Critic. *' If
you can answer that question I shall
perhaps be able to give some sort of
answer to yours. Personally, I am very
tired of the art tag which is attached to so
many things nowadays. If you go into
a draper's shop you are offered ribbons in
art shades, your bootmaker stocks art
footwear, the village blacksmith makes art
ironwork. Is there any art in all these
things i If there is, what need is there to
advertise it so blatantly : if there is not,
what is the term but a fraud and an
affectation i" 0 0 0 0
" Yes, and what are the people who
accept this ready-made art but frauds and
humbugs i " agreed the Young Highbrow.
" They are to blame for the existence of
this silly jargon." 0000
" I do not know on whom the blame
should be laid," said the Critic wearily ;
" but I do wish that people would give
up this misuse of the word art, and find
something a little less ambiguous to ex-
press the conception that is in their
minds." 00000
" Where is the ambiguity { " demanded
the Plain Man. " Surely it makes clear
the difference between ordinary things
and those that are produced with an
artistic intention." 0000
" All things that are well made and with
a proper sense of their fitness for their
purpose have in them a measure of artistic
intention," returned the Critic; " so
where is the distinction between ordinary
things and art things i No, I object to the
suggestion that art is something un-
practical and eccentric ; if people thought
a little more about it they would resent
these ridiculous and artificial definitions
and they would laugh at the advertiser's
label." 00000
The Lay Figure.
USED WORD. 0 a 0
" I cannot understand why you fellows
should be always complaining that no one
takes any interest in art," said the Plain
Man. " It seems to me that there is no
subject that is more talked about or that
gets more attention from the general
public." 0 0 0 0 0
" If you had said that there is no subject
about which more silly nonsense is talked
I should, for once, have been prepared to
agree with you," remarked the Young
Highbrow contemptuously. " Unintelli-
gent comment does not imply serious
attention." 00000
" But, my dear chap, look how widely
the influence of art is recognised," pro-
tested the Plain Man. " In evidence of
this, see how business people advertise all
sorts of art products. They would never
do this if they did not realise that artistic
things are in popular demand and that to
satisfy the public taste is a sound com-
mercial proposition." 000
" And you really believe that these
things which are advertised as artistic are
produced to satisfy a genuine demand for
art i " sneered the Young Highbrow. " I
have never credited you with a sense of
humour, but it seems to me that you are
trying to be funny." 000
" Don't be quite so superior," said the
Critic, breaking in before the Plain Man
could reply. " You must admit that a
fair proportion of the things which business
men advertise and offer for sale have some
claim to be considered as sound artistic
productions and fit to appeal to people
of taste. But there is a vast amount of
stuff turned out under the name of art
that has no right to the label it bears. That
it should find a market implies a lack of
discrimination on the part of the public
and a misunderstanding of right aesthetic
principles." 00000
" But it does not imply a want of
interest in art," argued the Plain Man.
" That is my point." 000
" Yes, it does," cried the Young High-
brow : " because if people took any
interest in art they would try to understand
what it means." 0000
I am more inclined to regard it as a
120
result of an ingenious attempt to play
upon the vanity of the crowd," replied the
Critic. " No man likes to be told that he
has no artistic sense, whether he is inter-
ested in art or not; and the people who
really are deficient fall an easj' prey to the
advertiser who professes to offer them art
ready-made." 0000
" But surely ready-made art is better
than none at all," suggested the Plain
Man. 000000
" Wrhat is art i " asked the Critic. *' If
you can answer that question I shall
perhaps be able to give some sort of
answer to yours. Personally, I am very
tired of the art tag which is attached to so
many things nowadays. If you go into
a draper's shop you are offered ribbons in
art shades, your bootmaker stocks art
footwear, the village blacksmith makes art
ironwork. Is there any art in all these
things i If there is, what need is there to
advertise it so blatantly : if there is not,
what is the term but a fraud and an
affectation i" 0 0 0 0
" Yes, and what are the people who
accept this ready-made art but frauds and
humbugs i " agreed the Young Highbrow.
" They are to blame for the existence of
this silly jargon." 0000
" I do not know on whom the blame
should be laid," said the Critic wearily ;
" but I do wish that people would give
up this misuse of the word art, and find
something a little less ambiguous to ex-
press the conception that is in their
minds." 00000
" Where is the ambiguity { " demanded
the Plain Man. " Surely it makes clear
the difference between ordinary things
and those that are produced with an
artistic intention." 0000
" All things that are well made and with
a proper sense of their fitness for their
purpose have in them a measure of artistic
intention," returned the Critic; " so
where is the distinction between ordinary
things and art things i No, I object to the
suggestion that art is something un-
practical and eccentric ; if people thought
a little more about it they would resent
these ridiculous and artificial definitions
and they would laugh at the advertiser's
label." 00000
The Lay Figure.