JVilhelm Leibl
as well as religious, the Japanese aristocracy de- and its capacity for demonstrating the truth with-
serve credit and gratitude for so carefully cherish- out faltering. Indeed, one might almost reproach
ingoneof their most integral and unique possessions the great Masters of German art —even Diirer and
—the choral religious play. Holbein, if there were any one courageous enough
Os.man Edwards. to do so—with the fact that they directed their efforts
solely to the representation of strict reality. But
__. TILHFI M LEIBL BY wnat ma^e their period so grand and imposing
% /% / gfqp'q gronau was this : the great Masters found means whereby
\ / \ / 1 to express just that which they meant to express.
\i \f Art, like the sea, has its The conditions which brought about a complete
t t periods of ebb and flow, change in aesthetic ideas in Germany were very
Surely, if perhaps not with absolute regularity, this peculiar. The theory of art generally inculcated
phenomenon repeats itself: the development of a was an ideal conception of things, represented by
strong naturalistic movement, which in due course classic work ; and then for a long period prejudice
dies quite away, while the new-found treasures of vetoed art of all sorts. When this attitude was
genuine observation, brought in by the flood, abandoned a fresh start was made, but not from
remain behind. In other words, the impetuosity that source of all true art—Nature herself. Artists
of individual genius is followed by an exhibition wanted to be " German " and " Christian," and
of the shallowness of superficiality and pretension. began to be enthusiastic over primitive Italian and
Naturalism is inborn in the German. That German art, proceeding from one imitation to
which made our art great in the past was, in the another. The reality remained, though changed in
first place, its wonderful faithfulness of observation, form.
VILLAGE POLITICIANS " BY WILHELM LEIBL
(By permission of S. Seeger, Esq.)
163
as well as religious, the Japanese aristocracy de- and its capacity for demonstrating the truth with-
serve credit and gratitude for so carefully cherish- out faltering. Indeed, one might almost reproach
ingoneof their most integral and unique possessions the great Masters of German art —even Diirer and
—the choral religious play. Holbein, if there were any one courageous enough
Os.man Edwards. to do so—with the fact that they directed their efforts
solely to the representation of strict reality. But
__. TILHFI M LEIBL BY wnat ma^e their period so grand and imposing
% /% / gfqp'q gronau was this : the great Masters found means whereby
\ / \ / 1 to express just that which they meant to express.
\i \f Art, like the sea, has its The conditions which brought about a complete
t t periods of ebb and flow, change in aesthetic ideas in Germany were very
Surely, if perhaps not with absolute regularity, this peculiar. The theory of art generally inculcated
phenomenon repeats itself: the development of a was an ideal conception of things, represented by
strong naturalistic movement, which in due course classic work ; and then for a long period prejudice
dies quite away, while the new-found treasures of vetoed art of all sorts. When this attitude was
genuine observation, brought in by the flood, abandoned a fresh start was made, but not from
remain behind. In other words, the impetuosity that source of all true art—Nature herself. Artists
of individual genius is followed by an exhibition wanted to be " German " and " Christian," and
of the shallowness of superficiality and pretension. began to be enthusiastic over primitive Italian and
Naturalism is inborn in the German. That German art, proceeding from one imitation to
which made our art great in the past was, in the another. The reality remained, though changed in
first place, its wonderful faithfulness of observation, form.
VILLAGE POLITICIANS " BY WILHELM LEIBL
(By permission of S. Seeger, Esq.)
163