Studio: international art (89.1925)

AN EXHIBITION BY THREE BOOK- and is, in his illustrations to " Daphnis and

ILLUSTRATORS : JOHN AUSTEN, Chloe" for example, much more con-

HARRY CLARKE AND ALAN ODLE. cerned with the formation of a pattern than

with an illustrative commentary on the

AT the St. George's Gallery this month text. His Victorian drawings, though by no
there is an exceptionally interesting means less closely studied as designs,
exhibition of drawings by Mr. John Austen, attain their effect without the distortion
Mr. Harry Clarke and Mr. Alan Odle. The observable in the " Daphnis and Chloe "
two first-named artists are already known plates. But whatever the style he adopts,
to readers of The Studio, but the two Mr. Austen's work is notable for its sure
reproductions herewith, from work by Mr. draughtsmanship and refinement of feeling.
Odle, are the first we have published from Combining something of the qualities of
the pen of a very highly talented artist. The the two artists just mentioned, Mr. Harry
world in which his imagination moves is a Clarke is undoubtedly one of the first Irish
bizarre, grotesque region, far removed from artists of the day. His drawings for book-
reality. His fertility in the invention and illustration are distinguished by great tech-
elaboration of weird and strangely attrac- nical mastery and are pre-eminent examples
tive motives is only matched by the un- of the minute style of decorative com-
erring rightness with which he combines position. When he uses colour, he does so
them into a pictorial unity, a a a with a rare delicacy of feeling ; and his work
Mr. Austen, since last we saw any of his as a whole is remarkable for the depth and
work, has changed his style considerably, truth of its imaginative penetration. 0
He has moved towards the pure decorators. H. B. G.

TAILPIECE BY
ALAN ODLE
26l