PICTORIAL ART.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 292, 10 December 1936, Page 8

PICTORIAL ART.

PHOTOGRAPHIC WORK. EXHIBITION IN AUCKLAND. INTERNATIONAL SELECTION. Is photography an art? Most of those who visit, at the Auckland Art Gallery, the exhibition of pictorial photography from the Western International Pliotographic Salon must be convinced that it might be placed among the highest forms of artistic expression. There has, perhaps, been no more fitting testingground for tliis claim in the city before than that provided by the present exhibition. For their very association with art these photographs have been chosen for exhibition; every one has been selected by competent judges for its expression of artistic feeling and execution. Each is more than the type of photograph which is purely a record of an event or incident. Thirty-four countries are represented in the exhibition, which was opened this afternoon by Mr. X. V. Douglas, chairman of the library committee of the Auckland City Council. It has come to New Zealand from South Africa, and will be sent to other centres in about three weeks' time. Mr. ll] J. Schmidt, of Auckland, a fallow of the salon, negotiated for it-s display ill Auckland, and co-operation was given by Mr. Mill Mucliamore, organising secretary of the salon, and -Messrs. Kodak, Limited, agents for the salon in New Zealand. This is the first international exhibition of photographs that has been held in the Art Gallery, although many other collections of pictorial'photography have been shown. The. countries, represented include America, China, Japan, India aiul New Zealand, and in every case the artistic sense of the photographer is revealed. In the choice of subjects, in the actual photographic treatment, and in the style of the finished print this quality is expressed. Some of the prints do not look like photographs; softly focused and delicately treated, they resemble rather wash drawings. Cloudlined sunsets, quiet landscapes, and even portraits are done in this way. On the other hand, there are many examples in which Nature's own treatment of the subject has sufficed; in these the photographer has aimed as far as possible in expressing what the eye had seen. There arc matchless studies of snow and ice and reflecting waters. I'rom China and Japan come delicate Nature photographs and a clever angleshot of a fearsome Buddhist statue. Continental studies are in good number; a fireworks display at Monte Carlo is interesting and beautiful, and a German print of water lilv leaves 011 a pond, with a light reflecting in the water, is a brilliant work. An unusual Austrian specimen is composed of a brightly-polished metal cooking pan and its living reflection*. One wall is devoted to a series of very fine American studies, ranging from portraits and figures to refreshing landscapes. "Snow and Steam," a winter railway yard scene, is a striking example. There is a wide range also in the British section, and two of the finest prints are those of tremendous seas breaking on the Isles of Scillv. One of these is aptly named "Grandeur. A crocus bed in full colour and a study of raindrops .011 a spider's web arc also impressive. New Zealand has five excellent examples—"Shadow Dancer"' (G. B. Jones Auckland), "Desisrn" (Douglas F. Lyons' Auckland), "Profile" (H. E. Gaze, Hamilton), "Blacksmith" (H. J. Schmidt, Auckland), and "Decoration" (R M Gillingham, Auckland).