ABSTRACTION CENTRAL IDEA OF ART EXHIBIT

The following criticism of the second exhibition of the Harvard Society for Contemporary Art, which opens in Room 208 of the Cooperative Building on Monday, was written by Mrs. Paul Herzog.

"Rather than show different artists and tendencies, this exhibition is, like the first, built around an idea. The review of modern painting, which was the subject of the last exhibition, showed clearly the direction of painting toward an abstract rather than realistic type of expression. 'Abstraction' is the name of the present exhibition. It includes examples of abstract (non-realistic) art from many nations and many centuries.

A Greek vase from the fifth century B.C., and a fine panel from an Egyptian tomb will be shown together with original works by EI Greco, Pieasso, O'Keefe, and Branciesi, the implication being that there is an underlying formal principle which runs through all abstract works.

"The individual works which illustrate this thesis have been selected from among the great contemporary masters. Braque, di Chirico, and Gris are some of the names on the list. Although the emphasis of the exhibition will be kept on contemporary painting and sculpture, a fourteenth century Siennese Madonna, Russian Icons, and Negro sculpture will also be shown."