ART IN A SHOP.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 63, 14 March 1919, Page 6

ART IN A SHOP.

T THE v --*r__>E STUDY" PROBIXM * BOOKSELLER FINED. :|,-, The old question ot the nature of the publicity which may be given to art studies in the nude was involved in | prosecution against Ernest R. Dann and j Mrs. Dann, booksellers, on a charge that ion February 12 they sold indecent documents in the 6hape of picture postcard. ,to D. J. O'Sullivan, a plain clotbea ; constable. The postcards in question ' were reproductions of famous pictures including those entitled "Venus Asleep"* "The Three Graces," and "The Satyr and the Bacchante." Mr. Inder, for the defendants, admitted that the postcards were sold in Mr. Dann'a Queen Street shop, which ia managed 'by Mrs. Dann, and that they were included in a series of art »__> cards shown in the window of tho shop But counsel contended that the question of whether or not the postcards were indecent had to be judged from the ch> ctunstanees surrounding the sale. _« this case the defendant, Dann, who did , a large book and postcard business ol . a good class, had had inquiries from cv». - tomers with artistic tendencies for ■what was called the art series of poetcards, which were specially suited in size to a kind of frame which was '. rather fashionable at the moment. H« ! accordingly ordered a number of sets of the series, indenting these cards and others through a reputable local firm. The cards came in the usual way through the Customs, where a kind of censorship is exercised, and, as a matter of fact, a number of the cards of thi* series were held by the Customs. Defendant was, therefore, justified in be, . i lieving that the cards, having been I once censored, were considered proper j for public sale. Defendant and his wife and assistants made it a rule not to sell art postcards to young people, and the sale, which was not large, wis ■ restricted, in fact, almost entirely ta adults interested in art. After having heard evidence by the d«* fendant, E. __ Dann, to the effect stated Iby counsel, his Worship stated he iwas quite satisfied that these small ! cheap copies of famous pictures in the ; j nude were not proper subjects for indk- ! criminate sale in a book-shop and. ex« | hibition in a shop window. If they had • been good reproductions such as art 1 students might prize, and had been • restricted to private show and sale to I bona fide art students, the case would i ibe different. He did not think these . nude studies should bo exhibited oi gold i indiscriminately. He did not think i there had been a wilful -reach of the, t Indecent Pufblications Act, but he vis : quite satisfied that a sale of such cheap ■ copies in a manner -which might enable • any person to get possession of them [ was c breach of the Act. ; Each defendant would be fined '£5 ■ and 7/ costs. t In reply to a request by Mr. Inder for i some direction for the trade about how . to treat these art ntudies, his Worship : stated that the whole thing jvas . governed by circumstances, but if a • tradesman kept a part of his premises . reserved properly &c an art gallery for [ showing good reproductions of famous pictures to art students of mature years, he might then be considered ti safeguard the sale of the reproduction*, Beyond that it was difficult to giye _d< vice.