International studio (42.1910)

John C. Johansen

AN OUTDOOR PORTRAIT GROUP BY JOHN C. JOHANSEN

to Whistler. The exhibition that does not show which was used generously, was piled on in simple

some canvas representing that city is indeed unique, masses, broken and vibrating. It was, in short, a

for Venice, time out of mind, has been the Mecca of new viewpoint, an altogether modern and fun

the painter, and the Rialto, the Doges' Palace, the damentally healthy appreciation of the entrancing

canals and lagoons have been laid under tribute in possibilities of the place.

every medium the artist possesses. But Mr. Joha'n- The show in London brought instant recognition

sen scorned precedent. He depicted Venice in a and made for the painter many friends among the

way entirely his own, no less original in his color younger set of artists, while even the older and more

scheme than in the treatment of his surfaces; and, conservative men rubbed their eyes at the departure,

while it was never for a moment a new Venice, it Several of the canvases found places in prominent

was a Venice rendered in its most beautiful aspect, British collections. When the remaining works,

full of its dreamy poetry and romance, colorful, ten- with others, were brought to New York last winter,

der, enchantingly seen through a most artistic tem- there was no less of an enthusiastic reception,

perament, when the gracious city was at her best. They were shown first at the new Madison galleries

There were pictures of the city at dawn, under and, later, at the Oehme galleries, on Fifth Avenue,

golden haze at sunset, in suggestive opal fogs, and It is, however, but fair to predict that this artist is

always there was palpitating color, with admirable far from having said his last word. He is yet under

drawing and construction to her streets, buildings thirty-five and only well started on his career. With

and canals. The compositions were well balanced his seriousness and application, his profound love

and the place, in short, was seen in its most alluring for his profession and his knowledge of the funda-

and appealing aspect. And the compositions were mentals, he should go very far, bring his art to a

so generalized that the spectator delighted in their higher development, achieve grander schemes and

simplicity, seriousness and beauty. The color, reach even nobler ideals. A. H.

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