International studio (22.1904)

DECORATIVE LANDSCAPE
294

FROM THE PAINTING BY W. LEISTIKOW

IBETAN ART.
MESUR1ER.

BY MRS. LE

THE art of the East generaHy, and of
India in particular, has of late years found an ever-
increasing popularity in the West. Many artistic
craftsmen here have paid it the tribute of the
sincerest flattery, directly and indirectly. So accus-
tomed are we now to the wonderful blending of
bright colours, to the subdued harmony, and the
graceful forms and intricate designs of the Orientals,
that perhaps we hardly realise all we owe artistically
to the great continent. There is still, however, one
Asiatic country the art of which is little known, for
the simple reason that comparatively few visit even
its borders. This is the Forbidden. Land, and
those who have visited it find the natives extremely
reluctant to part with their vessels and instruments,
most of which have religious uses and significance.
Owing to this difficulty few representative collec-
tions have been made in the past, and it is probable
that so long as the political situation remains un-
altered still fewer will be made in the future. Thus

criticism and serve to give some idea of his peculiar
excellencies. The feeling for form, the skilful
draughtsmanship, the earnest conscientiousness,
even in cases where the subject treated is an
unfamiliar one, are the moA noteworthy charac-
teristics of everything from his hand. Some of
his pictures are merely landscape motives treated
in a decorative manner. In addition to his
work in colour he has also produced a large number
of lithographs, in which he has successfully adapted
to that medium many fine studies of flat country
with groups of trees breaking the monotony of the
plains. Nor has he scorned to lend his aid to the
handicraftsman, and to him are due various good
designs for carpets and other textile fabrics.
To sum up, in a few final words, the position of
Leistikow : he does not belong to those who love
to interpret the varied charms of beautiful natural
scenery, ringing the changes on a multiplicity of
startling effects, but rather to the minority, who
are content to give voice to their convictions in
subjects of a simple description treated with
absolute fidelity.