DOI Heft:
Nr. 220 (July 1911)
DOI Artikel:Frantz, Henri: The salon of the société des artistes francais
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20973#0116
The Salon of the A rtistes Frangais
"north sands, holy island" (The property of Mrs. Walter Jones) by edwin Alexander
Mr. Alexander's technique. It is an intrinsic part /—■—^-[jr SALON OF THE SOCIETE
of the extreme economy of means by which he
T
DES ARTISTES FRANCAIS.
attains expression, and it is as far away from the
slightness which touches things too superficially as "* The Society of French Artists is one of the
the over-wrought work of a beginner is from the oldest institutions in France, for it dates from the
deliberations of a Diirer. It is the essence of what reign of Louis XIV., and it has continued in existence
has appealed to him that he would extract, from that time down to the present year, despite
although his intentions are not, perhaps, too passing interruptions caused by war and revolutions,
clearly defined to himself—the best intentions Formerly this Salon was the only exhibition in
never are, and we should be going beyond our which one found examples of the work of con-
task in attempting to provide the artist with his temporary masters of the art of painting, but un-
theories. It is much more pleasant to simply fortunately, like all very old institutions, the society
record the impression his results leave upon his no longer keeps in touch with the most modern
admirers who visit the Old Water-Colour Society's tendencies and with the trend of present-day ideas.
Galleries. Individuality in art is represented, and The countless little exhibitions in the various
mastery within self-recognised and often self- small galleries which are so numerous in the Paris
imposed limitations is shown to the little admiring of to-day have made us rather critical of art shows,
group of people that always mark the position of and it gives one now no great pleasure to see in
his pictures in the rooms. T. Martin Wood. the huge rooms at the Grand Palais the thousands
- of pictures disposed row upon row. The visitor's
The Senefelder Club has met with a remarkable first impression is generally, therefore, an unfavour-
response to its attempt to spread an interest in artistic able one on seeing so many mediocre or at any
lithography throughout England. Besides selections rate second-rate paintings. But we must guard
of lithographs already sent to Bradford, Birmingham, against taking too general or too superficial a
Worcester, and Leeds, the Club has organised an view; here, as elsewhere, we must take the
important exhibition of past and present lithographic trouble to search out the good things, and
art now being held in the City Art Gallery, Manches- certainly for those who will put themselves to the
ter, and in the autumn a special collection of the pains of doing so there will be a reward often in
latest work of the Club will be seen, on the invitation the shape of a startling or interesting discovery,
of the City of Liverpool, at the Walker Art Gallery. The chief interest of the recent Salon lay, to my
95
"north sands, holy island" (The property of Mrs. Walter Jones) by edwin Alexander
Mr. Alexander's technique. It is an intrinsic part /—■—^-[jr SALON OF THE SOCIETE
of the extreme economy of means by which he
T
DES ARTISTES FRANCAIS.
attains expression, and it is as far away from the
slightness which touches things too superficially as "* The Society of French Artists is one of the
the over-wrought work of a beginner is from the oldest institutions in France, for it dates from the
deliberations of a Diirer. It is the essence of what reign of Louis XIV., and it has continued in existence
has appealed to him that he would extract, from that time down to the present year, despite
although his intentions are not, perhaps, too passing interruptions caused by war and revolutions,
clearly defined to himself—the best intentions Formerly this Salon was the only exhibition in
never are, and we should be going beyond our which one found examples of the work of con-
task in attempting to provide the artist with his temporary masters of the art of painting, but un-
theories. It is much more pleasant to simply fortunately, like all very old institutions, the society
record the impression his results leave upon his no longer keeps in touch with the most modern
admirers who visit the Old Water-Colour Society's tendencies and with the trend of present-day ideas.
Galleries. Individuality in art is represented, and The countless little exhibitions in the various
mastery within self-recognised and often self- small galleries which are so numerous in the Paris
imposed limitations is shown to the little admiring of to-day have made us rather critical of art shows,
group of people that always mark the position of and it gives one now no great pleasure to see in
his pictures in the rooms. T. Martin Wood. the huge rooms at the Grand Palais the thousands
- of pictures disposed row upon row. The visitor's
The Senefelder Club has met with a remarkable first impression is generally, therefore, an unfavour-
response to its attempt to spread an interest in artistic able one on seeing so many mediocre or at any
lithography throughout England. Besides selections rate second-rate paintings. But we must guard
of lithographs already sent to Bradford, Birmingham, against taking too general or too superficial a
Worcester, and Leeds, the Club has organised an view; here, as elsewhere, we must take the
important exhibition of past and present lithographic trouble to search out the good things, and
art now being held in the City Art Gallery, Manches- certainly for those who will put themselves to the
ter, and in the autumn a special collection of the pains of doing so there will be a reward often in
latest work of the Club will be seen, on the invitation the shape of a startling or interesting discovery,
of the City of Liverpool, at the Walker Art Gallery. The chief interest of the recent Salon lay, to my
95