By Eutzanern Pervs, 'The exhibit of wood prints held by Miss Elizabeth Keith this week gave the additional pleasure of contrasting with these the prints" which Miss Keith has made of southern' Chinese and Philippine views. The technique of the tropical scenes so vividly depleted differs markedly from the Guieter toned reproductions of Chinse and Japanese life and each has its own charm. One of the views which is bound to be especially popular shows Hongkong at night, the harbour. in-the foreground and the Peak illuminated with myriad lights shining out from the houses. The engraver worked for a full month cutting out the blocks needed for this print, so minute is the de-ail'which blends into the background. and here it may be well to inter-palate a word as to the method Which Miss Keith uses. 'Trained in various art, classes in England 'Miss Keith did not take up the making of wood prints until circumstances brought' her to Japan, where the picturesque surroundings inspired her to make many sketches. On seeing her paintings, the artist who had made the blocks for Mr. Bartlett, one of the first to popularize this art, begged her to allow him to make her blocks and print the reproductions. At first Miss Keith maintained that she would not take up the detail involved in' making prints, but other friends advised her to do and now she is a very enthusiastic exponent of, this form of artistic expression.
'Miss Keith makes the' or! painting, then traces it upon piece of paper which is placed upon fa block of cherry wood and carved out, The colouring process is very intricate, as different blocks must used for the different hues, and the artist is never sparing in her colour scheme. The number of. many of these reproductions is limited. Mz. Watanabe, the print-ex who has. always worked - with Miss Keith in the production of these prints, fortunately escaped injury in. the. earthquake and still carrying out "the mechanical
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.