DOI Heft:
No. 27 (June 1895)
DOI Artikel:W., G.: Some more dry-points by M. Helleu
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17294#0118
M. Helleus Dry-Points
mously realised—note Les dessins de Watteau au we discover the obvious—not secured by accident,
Louvre, where the pictures are shown on the walls but as the completed effort of intention. To say
printed a la sanguine. When in a modern illus- " the sky is blue," is the obvious remark of a cheap
trated weekly we see a half-tone block of a hunting tripper at the seaside ; yet a poet can say no more,
field printed in black, with the coats of the hunts- Only when the first observation seems as trite as a
men in red, we shudder at the mixed metaphors notice in a railway carriage, the second so phrases
and confused convention. Yet in this, a case its simple words that you realise the whole beauty
"ETUDE D'UNE JEUNE FILLE " FROM A DRY-POINT BY PAUL HELLEU
almost parallel, we are convinced that the result of the scene from the hackneyed sentence. M.
justifies the means. For genius, if it makes mis- Helleu sets forth to tell you what he saw—and it is
takes, has wit enough to make you feel the rule just what every one may see in his subjects—yet
is at fault, so ingeniously does it supersede its so clearly has he recaptured the inevitable word
teaching. to express the dominant quality that attracted him,
Dry-point is surely the supreme art for artists— that you discover he is setting before you beauties
not even silver-point can show better claim to re- which only a poet and an artist could discover,
present the highest effort of style. For it is a Whether the art of this accomplished wielder of the
truism that the final refuge of complexity is simpli- needle be a common primrose, or the rarest orchid,
city. So in these reticent and beautiful studies what matter ? It is a perfect flower—and all the
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mously realised—note Les dessins de Watteau au we discover the obvious—not secured by accident,
Louvre, where the pictures are shown on the walls but as the completed effort of intention. To say
printed a la sanguine. When in a modern illus- " the sky is blue," is the obvious remark of a cheap
trated weekly we see a half-tone block of a hunting tripper at the seaside ; yet a poet can say no more,
field printed in black, with the coats of the hunts- Only when the first observation seems as trite as a
men in red, we shudder at the mixed metaphors notice in a railway carriage, the second so phrases
and confused convention. Yet in this, a case its simple words that you realise the whole beauty
"ETUDE D'UNE JEUNE FILLE " FROM A DRY-POINT BY PAUL HELLEU
almost parallel, we are convinced that the result of the scene from the hackneyed sentence. M.
justifies the means. For genius, if it makes mis- Helleu sets forth to tell you what he saw—and it is
takes, has wit enough to make you feel the rule just what every one may see in his subjects—yet
is at fault, so ingeniously does it supersede its so clearly has he recaptured the inevitable word
teaching. to express the dominant quality that attracted him,
Dry-point is surely the supreme art for artists— that you discover he is setting before you beauties
not even silver-point can show better claim to re- which only a poet and an artist could discover,
present the highest effort of style. For it is a Whether the art of this accomplished wielder of the
truism that the final refuge of complexity is simpli- needle be a common primrose, or the rarest orchid,
city. So in these reticent and beautiful studies what matter ? It is a perfect flower—and all the
99