Judge, 1917-05-05 · page 15 of 30
Judge — May 5, 1917 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes bohemian artists of Greenwich Village/Washington Square area through mock-serious "profiles" paired with absurd illustrations. Each caption presents a ridiculous artistic method presented as legitimate technique: - **Reginald Knight** paints while sleeping (sleeping artist suspended from ceiling) - **Woolie West** uses a rattlesnake as creative "assistant" - **Vera Goode** creates sculpture through uncontrolled jumping/dancing - **C. Burnt Umber** uses a cat having seizures to apply paint - **P. Blower** throws spitballs for artistic effect - **Leon Clay** studies lions in an exaggerated, contorted pose The satire mocks the pretentiousness of avant-garde artists and their dubious creative methods. By presenting these absurdities with deadpan captions, Judge ridicules the Greenwich Village art scene as eccentric fraudsters using nonsensical techniques while claiming serious artistic purpose. The humor relies on readers recognizing these as parodies of actual contemporary bohemian affectations.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Reginald Knight believes that nocturns should be painted in a reclining position and finds that does his best work while asleep. Woolie West of McDougal Alley is vibrating a series of chromatic canyons—assisted by his pet pace-making rattler. Leon Clay is putting a great deal of action in his massive study of a lion at bay. Vera Goode the young California sculptress of Washington Square is springing into fame by leaps and bounds. Her latest work “The Dancing Faun” is her masterpiece. C. Burnt Umber has discovered a new and easy method for “laying in” his canvas. He has a cat that has fits. P. Blower the celebrated spitball artist is get- ting some wonderful effects with colored putty. ECCENTRIC ARTISTS IN ACTION fs eet EES: a: eee