ART OF THE EAST AND OF TEE WEST. 93-

at present mainly as an exotic, a luxury for those who can
afford it. It appeals to a special class, and is not a
spontaneous expression of the national life as a whole. Its
appeal, like that of much of the later Japanese art which
finds acceptance in the West, is trivial, not fundamental;.
it must be pretty and pleasing; its aim is primarily
aesthetic, where it should be prophetic. This divergence
between art and life and art and religion is increasing. "It
is a sign of the times. I cannot think it possible for great
art to flourish again in England, or in India, till we have-
all once more civilised ourselves, and learnt to believe in
something more real and more eternal than the external1
face of nature—until we are able to re-unite art
labour, and imagination with technique.