Art and Artists

The recent work of Max Band comprises the current exhibition at the Jacques Seligmann Gallery.

Although only 33 years old, this is Mr. Band’s third show in New York. He has also exhibited in Berlin and Paris, and his work may be found in many important art collections.

Mr. Band belongs to the school of Paris. His art like that of his confreres is highly derivative. At present, especailly in his flower pieces, he seems to be under the spell of Derain and Menkes. It is in his figare subjects that Mr. Band is mostly hismelf. His sympathetic studies of she sad-eyed, wistful boys and his #arge painting of “The Bride” are original in conception and execution. His Lithuanian landscapes are charming.

A sound draftsman and possessing a sober palette, Mr. Band in his work gives evidence of serious purpose and sincerity.

A.F.LEVINSON

It is a pleasure to come across the work of A.F. Levinson at the Eighth Street Gallery. Almost alone among his searching, groping contemporaries he seems serene and at ease. He found himself a number of years ago and since then has been content to paint simply and unaffectedly the things he loves best and understands Levitison’s are is based on Cezafine and Matisse. He has incorportatted into his work the more pleasant, the easily acceptable, elements of these masters. A grand duplicity and a fine rhythmic quality pervades his work. His composition is hever obvious and his color is sensitive and often lovely in its subdued grays, pinks and deep blues.

I particularly liked his “Adele Reading” and his “Quarry, Rockport”. The large “Woods” is imporessive, rich and earthy.

SELF-PORTRAITS OF ARTISTS

The exhibition of self-portraits at the Whitney of Museum of American Art, although disappointing artistically, is quite a psychological experience. It reveals the artist as a vain creature, a pretentious little fellow, very much in love with himself and anxious to appear at his sartorial and tonsorial best.

Some artists, however, painted themselves simply and sincerely as they are, without affectation or pose. To mention but a few, there is the direct Ben Benn, the unostentatious Paul Berman, the alert Walkowitz (done twenty-five years ago), the human Raphael Soyer and the sensitive Jennings Tofel.