DOI Heft:
No. 384 (March 1925)
DOI Artikel:The lay figure
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21402#0186
THE LAY FIGURE : ON INTERIOR
DECORATION. a 0 a
The Guest, whose interesting pallor and
efficient spectacles gave an impression of
long service among dictionaries, suggested
that the study of words was not really so
arid a pursuit as many people supposed. It
might, he thought, quite well bring help in
many of the problems and difficulties of
life, if it were invited to do so. a 0
They had, for example, been discussing
what seemed to be a vexed question, and
even a matter for lamentation, in regard to
people's homes. If he did not misinterpret
them, their final opinion would appear to be
that so-called decoration was the root of all
evil, and that unless it were stopped there
would be no hope for the future. And what
they had been saying illustrated'the merit of a
clear understanding of the meaning of words.
That word " decoration " had evidently
been bent and distorted out of its proper
shape so as to become an excuse for a host
of things of which they disapproved. But,
by right interpretation, it ought rather to
serve as a sort of watchword for their faith.
Its true meaning—to go back to the dic-
tionary—was nothing more or less than the
cultivation of what was fitting or seemly in
regard to any object, and that might, he
supposed, be a negative as well as a positive
matter. The avoidance of superfluities was
a part of accurate decoration just as much
as the addition of suitable and improving
details, anyhow in the dictionary sense. 0
The Critic agreed cordially with this
definition of the idea conveyed by the word,
and said that the text-book would be at one
with the dictionary. The trouble, however,
was that most human beings seldom looked
at either, and, once an original meaning was
forgotten or obscured, it was uncommonly
hard to revive its influence. That was why
any given bit of blank space in any given
room, say the top panel of a grate or the
key plate of a door, was considered open
territory for experiments in eye-strain.
Random repousse work in such a position,
even though it served no purpose except
the collection of dust, had come to be re-
garded as decoration and was taken for
granted. It would be possible to point to
many instances of the same sort of thing in
almost every corner of the ordinary modern
180
house, because meaningless detail was now
a convention and in many quarters was con-
sidered essential. For people whose eyes
were trained to assess values properly the
very word decoration in relation to house
equipment now had a sinister sound. 0
The Young Highbrow groaned assent.
It was a hideous age. The machine ruled
everything, and it was, so far as he could
see, allowed an absolutely free wheel in
making patterns about the place. Let them
imagine a motor-bicycle's theory of art and
they would have a fair idea of modern
decoration. How could the few people who
appreciated something better make any
stand against that sort of development i
With slabs of ornament being delivered by
the gross, as per the local builder's
esteemed order—he laid gloomy emphasis
on the words—he saw nothing for it but for
the enlightened to turn their attention to
other matters and let interior decoration go.
The Plain Man, however, refused to be
either intimidated or depressed. For his
part he thought that there was something
decidedly hopeful in the dictionary notion.
Supposing that the true meaning of the
word decoration were brought home to
everybody, designer, manufacturer, and
householder alike, it seemed to him that
there ought to be a clear gain in various
ways. One, at any rate, was economic—he
had an idea that things ought to cost him
less. At this conclusion the Young High-
brow gave his most sardonic laugh, which
had the effect of starting the spokesman
off again. 00000
Yes, that laugh convinced him that he
was right. It convinced him also of another
thing'—and he pointed an accusing finger.
" It's you," he said, " and the people like
you, who are largely responsible for the
trouble. You say it isn't your job and
you're not going to worry about it. But it
ought to be your job. It's art just as much as
pictures or statues. Don't you agree i "
He looked towards the Critic. 0 0
The Critic nodded thoughtfully. " Yes,"
he replied, " I do. And I believe one of the
first parts of the whole problem is to per-
suade artists as a race of their duty to widen
their views both of subject and material.
There is room for an uncommonly interest-
ing treatise on these lines." 00a
The Lay Figure.
DECORATION. a 0 a
The Guest, whose interesting pallor and
efficient spectacles gave an impression of
long service among dictionaries, suggested
that the study of words was not really so
arid a pursuit as many people supposed. It
might, he thought, quite well bring help in
many of the problems and difficulties of
life, if it were invited to do so. a 0
They had, for example, been discussing
what seemed to be a vexed question, and
even a matter for lamentation, in regard to
people's homes. If he did not misinterpret
them, their final opinion would appear to be
that so-called decoration was the root of all
evil, and that unless it were stopped there
would be no hope for the future. And what
they had been saying illustrated'the merit of a
clear understanding of the meaning of words.
That word " decoration " had evidently
been bent and distorted out of its proper
shape so as to become an excuse for a host
of things of which they disapproved. But,
by right interpretation, it ought rather to
serve as a sort of watchword for their faith.
Its true meaning—to go back to the dic-
tionary—was nothing more or less than the
cultivation of what was fitting or seemly in
regard to any object, and that might, he
supposed, be a negative as well as a positive
matter. The avoidance of superfluities was
a part of accurate decoration just as much
as the addition of suitable and improving
details, anyhow in the dictionary sense. 0
The Critic agreed cordially with this
definition of the idea conveyed by the word,
and said that the text-book would be at one
with the dictionary. The trouble, however,
was that most human beings seldom looked
at either, and, once an original meaning was
forgotten or obscured, it was uncommonly
hard to revive its influence. That was why
any given bit of blank space in any given
room, say the top panel of a grate or the
key plate of a door, was considered open
territory for experiments in eye-strain.
Random repousse work in such a position,
even though it served no purpose except
the collection of dust, had come to be re-
garded as decoration and was taken for
granted. It would be possible to point to
many instances of the same sort of thing in
almost every corner of the ordinary modern
180
house, because meaningless detail was now
a convention and in many quarters was con-
sidered essential. For people whose eyes
were trained to assess values properly the
very word decoration in relation to house
equipment now had a sinister sound. 0
The Young Highbrow groaned assent.
It was a hideous age. The machine ruled
everything, and it was, so far as he could
see, allowed an absolutely free wheel in
making patterns about the place. Let them
imagine a motor-bicycle's theory of art and
they would have a fair idea of modern
decoration. How could the few people who
appreciated something better make any
stand against that sort of development i
With slabs of ornament being delivered by
the gross, as per the local builder's
esteemed order—he laid gloomy emphasis
on the words—he saw nothing for it but for
the enlightened to turn their attention to
other matters and let interior decoration go.
The Plain Man, however, refused to be
either intimidated or depressed. For his
part he thought that there was something
decidedly hopeful in the dictionary notion.
Supposing that the true meaning of the
word decoration were brought home to
everybody, designer, manufacturer, and
householder alike, it seemed to him that
there ought to be a clear gain in various
ways. One, at any rate, was economic—he
had an idea that things ought to cost him
less. At this conclusion the Young High-
brow gave his most sardonic laugh, which
had the effect of starting the spokesman
off again. 00000
Yes, that laugh convinced him that he
was right. It convinced him also of another
thing'—and he pointed an accusing finger.
" It's you," he said, " and the people like
you, who are largely responsible for the
trouble. You say it isn't your job and
you're not going to worry about it. But it
ought to be your job. It's art just as much as
pictures or statues. Don't you agree i "
He looked towards the Critic. 0 0
The Critic nodded thoughtfully. " Yes,"
he replied, " I do. And I believe one of the
first parts of the whole problem is to per-
suade artists as a race of their duty to widen
their views both of subject and material.
There is room for an uncommonly interest-
ing treatise on these lines." 00a
The Lay Figure.