Life, 1912-02-29 · page 35 of 40
Life — February 29, 1912 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising** for luxury goods (jewelry studs, automobile tires, cigarettes), but includes an extended **art criticism** section mocking contemporary art movements. The art commentary (continued from page 449) satirizes **Impressionist and modern painters**, particularly **Camille Pissaro** and **Édouard Manet**. The critic ridicules Pissaro's "Woman at a Well" painting, claiming the peasant subject is so crude that even an uncultivated viewer can distinguish the woman from the well. He mocks Puvis de Chavannes's "Dreams" for its sentimental imagery of a sleeping laborer surrounded by absurd details like "wingless angels" scattering cookies. The satire targets the **obscurity and pretentiousness of modern art**, suggesting these avant-garde works are incomprehensible or silly to ordinary viewers. This reflects late-19th-century American skepticism toward Modernism and European artistic experimentation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CONE of the many new and beautiful designs for Studs, Vest Buttons and Cuff Links—gold and platinum mounted and of the finest workman- ship—some set with precious stones, -made by the largest house manu- facturing fine jewelry in the world. Krementz Bodkin-Clutch Studs and Vest Buttons appeal to fastidious dressers as the most per- {cet for wear with stiff bosom shirts. go in like a needle and hold like an Anchor; and are absolutely free from bot of any kind. ‘Ask to sce them at any of the leading jewelers. If your jeweler does not handle them write us and we will send booklet and name of dealer. KREMENTZ & CO. 60 Chestnut St., Newark, N. Makers of the Famous Krementz Collar Button Spring field ewe Tires The name, Kelly- Springfield, on a tire means more in the way of mileage guarantee than any tire “guarantee” ever meant. KELLY-SPRINGFIELD TIRE CO. 20 Vesey Street, New York Branch oMees in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia. Boson. 8t. Louls, Detroit, Cincinnati, San Francisco, Lot Aageiea, Buftalo. Cleveland, AUani nd Akron, Oblo. ‘Bors Rubler Co... Deaver Colo. Apple & Thirwell Dall Tod bt Co & ; Real Cigarette Distinction fof You persomal touch that makes you stand from the rest. rstinction, character, chafsa 100 Cigarettes with Yout Monogram for $2 ARTISTICATILY engraved in gold at the price of pain nts, ine jttel ine belch sig ony 3 sy. « how pleased you will be with thems ‘Or, send 10 In amps ble cigarette Write today, This offer limited. APOLLO BROS., inc. 13eNorth sth Street (Continued from page 449) I could make pictures that would re- semble people. There is no reason why M. Pissaro should not do well in that way, for he has painted No, 171, “A Woman At a Well,” in which the most unkempt and uncultivated peasant can at once distinguish which is the woman and which is the well, He is also the author of “ Spring,” a squirt study with a blue rash, which has broken out where the sky ought to be. No. 136 is the “Execution of M: milian," by Edouard Manet, a foreign artist. The scene is laid at the base of an old Mexican slaughter-house. In the foreground may be seen the rear of the Mexican Army with its wealth of tour- nure and cute little gored panties. All Mexican troops have their trousers gored at the hips, Sometimes they also have them gored at the bull-fights which take place there. In the contiguous dis- tance Maximilian may be seen wearing the hat which has evidently infuriated the Mexican populace. The artist says that Maximilian objects to being shot, but I pretend not to hear him and he repeats the remark, so I have to say “Very good, very good,” and then we pass on to No. 60, which is entitled “Dreams,” by Puvis de Chavannes. In this picture a weary man, who has worn himself out sleeping in haystac! and trying to solve the labor problem, so that the great curse of industry may be wiped out and the wealthy man made to pay the taxes while the poor man as- sists in sharing the burden of dividends, is lying on the ground with a pleasant smile on his face. He is asleep, with his mouth slightly ajar, showing how his tecth are fastened in their places. He is smiling in his slumber, and there is hay in his whiskers, Three decalco- manie angels are seen fastened to the sky in the form of a‘tableau. One is scattering cookies in his pathway, while the second has a laurel wreath which is offered at a great reduction, as the owner is about to leave the city for the summer. These are the new style of wingless angels recently introduced into art and now becoming very popular. M. Chavannes is also the mechanic who constructed a picture numbered 61 and called the “ Poor Fisherman.” The history of this little picture is full of pathos. The scene is laid in Newark Bay, N. J. A poor fisherman and his children go out to spend the day, taking their lunch with them. “Oh, papa, let us take two or three cucumbers with our lunch,” says one of the children, in glee. “Very well, my child,” exclaims the father, with ill-concealed delight. “Go down to the market and get one for cach of us.” The artist has chosen to make his study of the fisherman a short time after lunch. The father is engaged in re- gretting something which it is now too late to recall, Cholera infantum has 451 UXURY and good health go hand in hand when you drink Londonderry Mineral Water Most delightful of table waters. So grateful to the palate that there is enjoy- ment in every drop. So pure, light and sparkling that it acts as a wonderful cleanser to the system. And of a fine blending quality that gives added zest to any drink. Whether for health or enjoyment—drink Lon- donderry, Our new sealing method gives assurance of pur- ity. Sparkling (effer- vescent) in three table sizes. Plain (still) in half-gallon bottles. If you are so located that youcannotobtain it readily writeusand we will seethat you are supplied at once. LONDONDERRY LITHIA SPRING WATER CO., Nashua, N. Hl, ad Drug pati DR GIVENS’ SANITARIUM For Nervous and mild Mental disease: separate cottages for Alco Has Address DR. GIVENS, Stamford, Conn. overtaken the younger child and the other is gathering lobelia for her father. The picture is wonderful in its concep- tion and execution, One can see that he is a poor fisherman, for he has not caught any fish, and the great agony he feels is depicted in his face and the al- titude of his hair. The picture might have been called a battle piece or a French interior, with equal propriety. Manet has several bright and cheery bits of color, among them No. 147, comicbooks.com