International studio (40.1910)

The Society of Graver Printers in Colour

THE SOCIETY OF GRAVER-
PRINTERS IN COLOUR.
The multiplication of art societies which
has been going on during the past few years has
not unnaturally called forth criticism on the part
of some of those who pass judgment on the doings
of artists, and it must be admitted that in certain
cases there has been ample excuse for unfriendly
comment, for it has been difficult to discover any
raison-d'etre of sufficient cogency to justify their
addition to the almost bewildering number of
societies that one hears of. On the other hand,
there is a good deal to be said for this segregation
of art-workers into groups, large or small, where
the impelling motive for their union is not a mere
shibboleth but some definite line of work or mode
of procedure, the prosecution of which is not

espoused by any existing society, or, at all events,
not adequately fostered. Those societies which
exist for the encouragement of a special branch of
art which may, perhaps, have been in a languishing
condition, or even become extinct, undoubtedly
exercise a beneficial function ; and the same may
be said where a society has for its aim the pro-
duction of a high quality of work and takes steps
to ensure that the productions of its members shall
comply with certain rigorous conditions the fulfil-
ment of which serves as a guarantee of good crafts-
manship. As will be seen from the following
account of the society of Graver-Printers in
Colour, this society is one which has kindred aims,
and in that respect alone has established its right
to existence.

The society was formed in February of last year
at a meeting held at the studio of Mr. Theodore