CHAPTER 22
PICTURES
Pictures reveal the stage or esthetic development of their owners
more clearly than any other articles of furnishing. Need for econ-
omy may prevent the discarding of ugly furniture, hot there is no
excuse for the woman who hangs pictures that she does not like,
as bare wall spaces are always preferable to poor pictures.
No woman can reasonably expect to be able to select pictures
that have esthetic quality unless she has seriously studied pictures.
There is no such thing as natural good taste in pictures, and those
who imagine that they have it are mistaken. Probably constant
association with fine pictures might develop a sure taste, were it
not for the fact that we are all exposed to great quantities of poor
pictures in advertising and elsewhere. A dilettante could visit;
art exhibitions for a lifetime and still not know what to look for
in pictures.
The study of pictures should include reading a comprehensive
history of painting, a good recent book on the esthetics of painting,
and also the contemporary art periodicals. A course in apprecia-
tion and analysis of pictures is also of great value. Those fortunate
enough to be near an art museum should take the lecture courses
about its pictures which are usually given there. No one can thor-
oughly appreciate pictures, however, unless she has had some good
instruction and practice in painting in both oil and water color.
Whether or not a person has talent, the experience of painting
develops understanding of the problems of organization and tech-
nique that confront the artist who tries to communicate an idea
by means of a painting.
-In the selection of pictures for the home many phases of the
subject should be considered: the artist's purpose and approach,
subject-matter appeal and esthetic appeal, contemporary and non-
contemporary pictures, originals and reproductions, and the dif-
ferent media: water colors, oils, and prints.
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