"WHISTLER'S PROTEST AGAINST "SEEING IS BELIEVING."

Otago Witness, Issue 2850, 28 October 1908, Page 82

"WHISTLER'S PROTEST AGAINST "SEEING IS BELIEVING."

American ]>a.ixitingf ie l>eoozrkixi^ Jnaoarc &n<2 more articulate in literary ways, and; better known and appreciated in consequence. In "The Story of American Painting" (Hodder and Stoughton), Mr Charles H. Caffin trace* the evolution of "painting in America from colonial times to the present. The volume is profusely and admirably illustrated, and under each reproduction a short and useful appreciation of the original paintingis given. Here are a few of Mr .Gaffin's remarks on Whistler's genius: — He did not ignore form — very far from it; but it was the effect of form in its relation to the character of the subject and its relation to considerations -of abstract beauty that alone seemed to him to be worth interpretation.^ In a material age he made -his artistic protest against the accepted axiom "that "seeing- is believing,'* teaching and proving in his works that ifc is not what the average man sees that" counts for much" in art, but what, for tho most part, he omits to see, since he sees only with the ocular vision, and ;s; s prone to peer- through spectacles. So, in that masterpiece, "Th« Portra'O of the Artist's Mother," he did not picture a lady as she would appear to the indifferent gaze of strangers, but as she wa«t known to the heart of her son in tho spiritual communion of theii -mutual -love. And the son being a great master, the picture becomes the noblest tribute Jo motherhood that painting can show, and to everyone who has known the blessing of a good mother the most wonderful interpretationof his own devotion, if he have eyes to see it.

In "The Portrait of Cexlyle" the figure is entirely in blaok.Jhe pallid face and greyhair silhouetted 1 against a grey wall, the Whole enveloped in a dull, dreary atmosphere. It is, indeed, a colour arrangement of slightly different tones of black and grey, forming a sombre harmony thati Richard Mnther, the German oritie-his-torian, has likened to a funeral march. The prevailing expression is one .of weariness of soul and mind. The volcanic fire that used to glow white-hot in this bitter^ opponent of ail world-shams has burned itself to blackness and grey ash. . Whether or not this truly -represented at the- lame the portrait was painted the personality of Carlyle, work-worn though he was and achronic sufferer from dyspepsia, nay he doubted- 33ie making «f 4 likeness waa seldom in "Whistler's thoughts ; it was the impression that the subject made upon hi© imagination that he strove to render ; and in this case it is a pathetic one, oonsis- ~ tent with itself, and most poeticallywrought. It reveals, moreover, that aloofness so characteristic of this master's work. The figure dwells apart in' an atmosphere of its own, far from the glare and' din o£ the world, wrapt in the calm that follows after passion.

Germany has a war chest fund of £6.000,000 sterling, which was set apart from the French milliards against the coming of another evil day. This enormous sum . in gold has been lying for the last 37 years in the Julius Tower at Spandau.

The new treatment of bringing stout' people to slim, elegant, and comfortable proport ; on 6 consists in the first place in eating all manner of cheeses, to the exclusion of all other foods, save non-fatten-ing biecuite, fruit, and a limited quantity of meat once a day. At dinner you mult have only a " soupcon " of meat and nothing rich.