The Arts of Mankind

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23061, 11 June 1938, Page 4 (Supplement)

The Arts of Mankind

THAT versatile popular historian, Mr. Hendrik Willem van Loon, has entered a new field—or rather, has invaded an old one with a now purpose in view—by compiling a history of the arts' from the cavepaintings of Altamira to the present day. Few modern writers have a happier gift for discussing weighty matters in so pleasant and informal a fashion as Mr. van Loon, and fewer still can add the ability to illustrate the discourse with lively and expressive drawings. According to his publishers, the book represents ten years' work, and its 600 well-stocked pages and scores of illustrations make this easily bolievable. Mr. van Loon has no patience with aesthetic theory or with attempts to analyse the psychology of the artist. To him the arts are an integral part of man's life, and it is from this aspect that he wntes about them. t He has used tho same method as in liis earlier works, "The Story of Mankind," "The Koine of Mankind'' and "Tho Liberation of Mankind." Tho result is a sumptuous human pageant interrupted here and there by the entry of some great personality such as Leonardo, Michelangelo, Benibrandt, Bach or Beethoven, to name but a few. The architecture, painting, sculpture, music and minor arts of every age are described against the social, intellectual and religious background ot their times, and the tale is garnished with homely and humorous touches and "modern instances" at every turn. It may almost bo said that the book is general history from a new angle. . •;/. /• The lesson Mr. van Loon draws from the whole inquiry is that art nowadays is imprisoned in concert halls, picture-galleries- and museums, whereas it •'should be a pftrt of everyday life. So advises his readers to buy reproductions of good pictures and gramophone records of good music. More than that, lie recommends everyone to practise some art simply for enjoyments-try to pick out tunes on the piano or get into the habit of carrying a few cards in the pocket and jotting down little sketches of things seen. Personally, he says, he finds a lot of fun in playing the fiddle- indifferently in an orchestra, and in making etchings which will never be sold. Tho book's illustrations, many of them m colour, will delight all admirers of Mr. van Loon's "shredded wheat" style of drawing. His imitations of such things as a Japanese colour-print, an early Italian fresco, a Chinese landscape or a Byzantine mosaic are more in the spirit of the originals than the best photographic reproduction could be. "The Arts of Mankina," by Hendrik Willem ran Loon. (Sarrap.)