WOMEN'S SOULS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 84, 10 April 1931, Page 13

WOMEN'S SOULS

PORTRAIT OF EMOTIONS

"A picture is a book in colour, and when I paint the portrait of a woman I describe her emotions, thoughts, and feelings," said Senor Beltran-Masses, the Spanish artist, whose remarkable pictures'are daily earning him new fame and honour throughout the world, to a London interviewer. Ho proceeded:-— . . ■

"I understand women—absolutely! I paint their souls. Often famous people say to me that I should write books; but my pictures form a better medium for me to describe personalities. Bocauso my Salome created such discussion wiveii it w;is exhibited in London last year, do not think that I can only portray emotion by painting the rucl lips, haunting eyes, and luxurious hair of women. Oh, no! '■'I have just returned from Italy for a short visit to London after painting the portrait of the Prince of Piedmont, heir to the Italian throne. He has great personality. He is human, intelligent, and understands his fellow-beings. Painters study anatomy when creating a portrait; I go further and study the soul of the sitter.

"I am going back to Paris to work hard for six months, and, perhaps, next year, some of my new works will be shown in London. I work hard in Paris —ten hours a day. I cannot work in Spain; that beautiful country is made for dreaming, whereas the atmosphere in Paris is ideal for creative work." ■ PICTURES THAT SPEAK. Senor Beltran-Masses is full of vitality. He speaks quickly, incisively, and gesticulates with great expression. His piercing eyes characterise him as a man of remarkably keen observation. He was asked what wero his impressions of the English girl. "Ah, she is piquant," ho exclaimed; with excited interest. "I watch your Englishwomen in. the street and I admire them. It is curiously charming tho way they- change expression like —like the crack of a whip! The Englishwoman is very interesting. Men of tho world say they cannot understand Englishwomen. I can! They say they are cold, but. they are not. The thin veil of reserve that cloaks their ardent souls is simply the result of their upbringing. The English woman is enormously sensitive. In a way, it is true, to say that I am a psychological painter, because in my pictures I tryto interpret the psychology of my models. It does not matter whether I •am painting a beautiful woman or a lemon.. I try to mako my picture speak."