DOI issue:
No. 49 (April, 1897)
DOI article:Mortimer Menpes' Japanese drawings
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18388#0179
Mr. Menpes Japanese Drawings
Japan at all with the eyes of a Japanese
artist, he must attend more to the manner
of his work than its matter, and must sub-
stitute the decorative intention for the
dramatic. By design alone, and that of
the most subtle and intelligent kind, can
he arrive at results really consistent with
the teachings of the native art, and it is
only when he has proved himself in
sympathy with these teachings that he
can be regarded as a satisfactory expo-
nent of the particular characteristics
which he has gone to Japan to study.
On this ground, then, Mr. Menpes, in
this latest demonstration of his artistic
intentions, deserves a special degree of
consideration. He is not merely a British
artist who has been working in a district
where paintable material is plentiful; he
is, besides, a student who has assimilated
some new principles, and has learned to
use them in an interesting fashion.
Always receptive, and ready to experi-
ment in fresh directions, he has seized an
occasion to prove the possibility of bring-
ing into agreement the ideas of Eastern
art, and the technical devices of the West.
The difficulties inseparable from such an
effort have not daunted him, and his
courage has been rewarded more amply
than might have been expected. The
, r T i-r , , OLD JAPAN BY MORTIMER MENPES
particular view of Japanese life which he
has chosen to present is elaborated into a
singularly complete representation ; correct in atmo- white broken only here and there with line work,
sphere, true in character, and thoroughly in keeping Others, again, of the types of Japanese character, are
with the artistic beliefs of the country. It says not in gouache monochrome, refined and subtle in
a little for the closeness of his study that he should modelling, and gradated with extreme delicacy,
have achieved so much; it says more still for his And there are also some studies in chalk handled
artistic intelligence that what he has done should be very freely, and .particularly bold and definite in
so entirely in the right spirit. statement.
. Concerning the technical character of the studies Of all the drawings, however, those in which he
themselves there is something to be said. The has aimed at obtaining effects of strong colour are
mediums in which they are executed are various. the most remarkable and the most original. In
A certain number are in oil, painted with the these Mr. Menpes has illustrated once more the
minute delicacy of touch which has deserved ad- restless spirit of investigation which has all his life
miration in much of the work that Mr. Menpes has been characteristic of him. He has never been
already exhibited. Some are in pen and ink, satisfied with accepted methods of work, and has
handled with regard rather for black-and-white always been trying to find new ways of obtaining
pattern than for the realisation of exact relations of unusual results. His Indian and Mexican pictures
tone. He has varied in them his manner of using were also experiments in the management of strong
the pen, for only a certain number of these drawings colour, and were marked by peculiarities of tech-
are in pure line; the rest are marked by a certain nique designed expressly to help in securing chro-
quality of decorative contrast, by the juxtaposition matic effects for the expression of which he felt
of solid blacks in large masses with spaces of pure that the generally recognised modes of painting
173
Japan at all with the eyes of a Japanese
artist, he must attend more to the manner
of his work than its matter, and must sub-
stitute the decorative intention for the
dramatic. By design alone, and that of
the most subtle and intelligent kind, can
he arrive at results really consistent with
the teachings of the native art, and it is
only when he has proved himself in
sympathy with these teachings that he
can be regarded as a satisfactory expo-
nent of the particular characteristics
which he has gone to Japan to study.
On this ground, then, Mr. Menpes, in
this latest demonstration of his artistic
intentions, deserves a special degree of
consideration. He is not merely a British
artist who has been working in a district
where paintable material is plentiful; he
is, besides, a student who has assimilated
some new principles, and has learned to
use them in an interesting fashion.
Always receptive, and ready to experi-
ment in fresh directions, he has seized an
occasion to prove the possibility of bring-
ing into agreement the ideas of Eastern
art, and the technical devices of the West.
The difficulties inseparable from such an
effort have not daunted him, and his
courage has been rewarded more amply
than might have been expected. The
, r T i-r , , OLD JAPAN BY MORTIMER MENPES
particular view of Japanese life which he
has chosen to present is elaborated into a
singularly complete representation ; correct in atmo- white broken only here and there with line work,
sphere, true in character, and thoroughly in keeping Others, again, of the types of Japanese character, are
with the artistic beliefs of the country. It says not in gouache monochrome, refined and subtle in
a little for the closeness of his study that he should modelling, and gradated with extreme delicacy,
have achieved so much; it says more still for his And there are also some studies in chalk handled
artistic intelligence that what he has done should be very freely, and .particularly bold and definite in
so entirely in the right spirit. statement.
. Concerning the technical character of the studies Of all the drawings, however, those in which he
themselves there is something to be said. The has aimed at obtaining effects of strong colour are
mediums in which they are executed are various. the most remarkable and the most original. In
A certain number are in oil, painted with the these Mr. Menpes has illustrated once more the
minute delicacy of touch which has deserved ad- restless spirit of investigation which has all his life
miration in much of the work that Mr. Menpes has been characteristic of him. He has never been
already exhibited. Some are in pen and ink, satisfied with accepted methods of work, and has
handled with regard rather for black-and-white always been trying to find new ways of obtaining
pattern than for the realisation of exact relations of unusual results. His Indian and Mexican pictures
tone. He has varied in them his manner of using were also experiments in the management of strong
the pen, for only a certain number of these drawings colour, and were marked by peculiarities of tech-
are in pure line; the rest are marked by a certain nique designed expressly to help in securing chro-
quality of decorative contrast, by the juxtaposition matic effects for the expression of which he felt
of solid blacks in large masses with spaces of pure that the generally recognised modes of painting
173