WOMEN’S WORLD

Northern Advocate, 13 June 1929, Page 2

WOMEN’S WORLD

beauty in common things. Au artist and keen critic of works of art recently made the statement that the trend of art today is for beauty iii common things. He told the following .story to illustrate the truth of his assertion;

Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars was recently offered to an advertising agency to conduct ah advertising campaign about a new electric toaster. Tire manufacturers of the toasters claimed that it was absolutely perfect as to mechanism, it had been designed and developed by engineers famous for their attention to detail, but, in spite of this the advertising agency .refused to accept the contract because it was not a good toaster to look at. It would not be au ornament to any breakfast table, and, as their .artist, expressed it, “No housewife. would have it on her table.”

The engineer who believed in the toaster because they knew it to lie mechanically perfect took it to an art school and asked' the pupils to “dress it tip in a good design.” It emerged from the art school with good lines and correct proportions and then the advertisers wore ready to tell the world about it.

Manufacturers of household equipment. and appliances are recognising the new “trend in art.” Colour has entered! the kitchen and changed the one-time dismal room to .a place of sunshine and loveliness. Other rooms in the house have had beauty added by the process of subtraction. Useless knick-knacks have been removed from pianos and mantels and one good piece of pottery or statuary now satisfies the eye. Many and meaningless pictures have disappeared and) one or two good ones have taken their place. The process of reproducing in colour, famous paintings, has been developed and perfected until it is possible for those who can enjoy the originals only in art galleries to have splendid copies for their own home walls. There’s another room in the house —the kitchen—where cheering, colourful scenes are often valuable. . . .

Who would deny the appropriateness, if not necessity, in the midst ot culinary tasks, of the suggestion of a sunny, winding road over country hills; or of a* glimpse of some fragrant, oldl-fashioned garden; or a companionable soul, rich with humour and understanding, taking part in imaginary, conversations, from the frame abo vo tl K 1 kite hen tab 1e I House-cleaning time offers a good opportunity to eliminate some decorations which do not enhance the loveliness or homelikeness of our rooms and to add one or two good pictures for the satisfaction of the entire family.