“Ja, Kan, Zoku, Rai.”
“Ja refers to attempted originality in a painting without the ability to give it character, departing from all law to produce something not reducible to any law or principle.
“Kan is producing only superficial pleasing effect without any power in the brush stroke—a characterless painting, to charm only the ignorant.
“Zoku refers to the fault of painting from a mercenary motive only—thinking of money instead of art.
“Rai is the base imitation of or copying or cribbing from others.”
X
UGLINESS
THE modern movement is in the direction of greater freedom, freedom to produce beautiful things in one’s own way.
Unhappily many of the things produced are not beautiful now—not nearly so dignified and beautiful as thousands upon thousands of old pictures.
One’s first impression on entering an exhibition of extreme modern works is not an impression of beauty but of ugliness.
There is no denying that, and it takes even the most impartial and sympathetic observer a long time to pick out the things which are fine in color and line and to readjust his notions of beauty.