Rawlings Institute - Hits and Bits Yearbook (Charlottesville, VA)

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THE PRICE OF AN INSPIRATIO . HIC studio of dull background of' olive green threw into bold relief' the casts and statuettes, and harmonized with the touches of' color in the water colors hanging on the wall. A. sofa in one corner, piled high with cushions, suggested ease and repose. Under the skylight., upon an easel, rested an unfinished picture. WVere it not for the easel and the living model, one would have thought it the room of' a collector ot' pictures and brie-a-brac rather than thc atclier ot' an artist. A young girl, who sits before the easel, after working awhile 1'ather dispiritcdly, lays her brushes aside, and compares with critical glances her picture and the model. ff It is not worth while t1'ying. I canit get the expression. All my faces look like wooden masks. And I have worked so hard I Oh, fbr the power to transfer to my canvas that subtly haunting expression ot' the model ! If' for once I might succeed in painting a real living fiace I would be content, though forever after I toiled in vain ll' Surely a diliicult subject the young artist has chosen-- Love's Despair -yet the face of' the model eould suggest no other title. Despair, deep, bitter, unavailing despair, was written in lines that could not be mistaken upon that pale face and spoke mournfully out ofthe sad eyes. The face had appealed to her artistic nature so strongly that she had engaged her as a model. She had suc- ceeded in getting the same outlines, the same features, but the soul ot' the fi1ee,the expression, was wanting. No word of' despair looked out of' the face upon the canvas, no pathetic drooping of the mouth which tells the folly of' tears. She had but the casket, the jewel was not there. A step sounded in the hall outside. Her face brightened. She took up her brushes again just as the door opened and her pro- fessor entered. A, handsome man he was, with the cold, passion- less face of' an artist. . His quick glance took in the model and the canvas. H A diflicult. subject you have chosen, Mademoiselle wifes!-ee pcm! WVhat success are you having with that most profound luunan emotion, lc dcsespoir dc Pmnozn' Y I-Iis pupil shrugged her shoulders. I am discouraged, Monsieur. I cannot paint the human soul. My canvas shows you that. And I have worked so hard l U Patience, Mademoiselle. All is not learned in a day. Your technique is good, your drawing accurate, the color lifelike. But, as you say, there is no soul looking out of' the eyes. Where is that expression of wicked tears so plainly written on the face of' the model ? Mademoiselle, he said earnestly, if only the inspi- ration that czln read and paint a lnunan soul could be awakened in you, you would be the greatest painter of your age. You have not yet that Heaven-sent gift. But do not be discouraged, Made- moiselle. It may come later. Persevering work is the keynote of' art. I donit think my lack of' inspiration is due to lack of' work.

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There must be something else. Maybe I have not a soul that can understand another soul well enough to paint with feeling. ff Mademoiselle, he said abruptly, 4' have you ever loved? The girl turned her head and looked through the window out over the roofs of' Paris to where the distant Seine sparkled on its 77 seaward way. She paused a few moments before she replied: Xen, mon Profes.s-cm-, I don't think I have ever loved, at least- Ah ! then your inspiration will come. That is what is lacking in your work. But it has its price. lVhen you have given your hea1't's desire in vain you can paint Iiove's despair. VVhen you have felt the bitterest sorrow, when you have given all, lost all, suffered all, then the inspiration will come that will enable you to know and paint the human soul. Such is the price all pay who have their names written in the Book of Fame. Mademoiselle's face had grown very pale. Her heartis secret, only half' acknowledged, made itself known to her at that moment. The awakening had come. The ending? Must love prove ill vain ? Let Love be glad, for pain is cruel. Ab, mon 1'rQfessc1tr. ' she said tremulouslyg His it 'worth the price f' XVorth the price. There is but one answer to every true artist. A thousand times, yes. Yea, count yourself' blessed if it is permitted you to suffer in order that the divine spark of' inspi- ration may be yours. What is the fleeting pleasure of love com- pared to the glory of' a great achievement? The desire for pleasure is selfish-the ambition to glorify life, to develope the highest in one that humanity may be uplifted, is heavenly. God does not make all artists. If' I-Ie has given you talent, it is your duty to develope that talent. NVhen sorrow comes, count yourself' for- tunate that you will thus be enabled to reach the highest plane of' your workf, U You talk as if' sorrow were certain to be my lot. Perhaps I may escape. VVho knows?. Life has given me no thorns among my roses thus far, she said with assumed lightness. U lVell, Mademoiselle, if' you escape sorrow, as you express it, you will also lose your chance of' becoming a great artist. Clmeun, it son goztt, but for my part I'd rather be the greatest artist of my time than a mere butterfly of a sunlit day seeking pleasure. Pleasure is not the highest aim. Sorrow is always a blessing in disguise. Take my advice, mn. chez-c 616110, and if' great love or great joy be yours to have, lay it aside, and achieve the highest and best in art. Is it not worth the price? H l'm'zlonnez-moi that weakness in asking such a question. Only a woman could ask that. You are a man. It is harder for a woman to lay love aside than it is for a man. But, as you say, it must surely be worth while.', 4' Then spoke the true artist. One is not worthy to be an artist unless one is brave enough to pay the price. And now I must go. Persevere, my pupil. You have a good model, though a hard subject. At some moment when you're not expecting it the inspi- ration may come. NVe know not what awaits us 3 no, not even what a day or an hour may bring forth. Au revoirf, As he was leaving the room Mademoiselle called him back. if Monsieur, excuse me, but have you ever paid the price? U I have not been so fortunate as to have had the opportunity, he said, and the next moment he was gone. Mademoiselle remained motionless until the last echo of his