CHRISTMAS CARDS AND THE FINE ARTS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 428, 14 December 1889, Page 4

CHRISTMAS CARDS AND THE FINE ARTS.

In no department of arb has such astonish ing progress been made during the last few years as in the preparation of cards, panels, booklets, and other publications for Christmas. This development of talent in the designing and manufacture of artistic fancy cards and stationery, and the practical part of chromo-lithography, is very largely due to the stimulus of a very active demand for novelties, the result being not only great variety and excellence, but extraordinary cheapness. Works which a very few years ago could not have been purchased for pounds, may now bo obtained for a few shillings or pence. Fine art publishers have vied with each other ia competing for tho popular favour, until a standard of excollence has been attained which seems to fulfil all the possibilities of mechanical execution, by placing it upon a level with the skill of the artist in design. To those who are familiar with the technicalities of chromo-litho-graphy — the nice judgment necessary for the reproduction ot artistic effect?, the overlaying of one colour upon another, all the while keeping clearly in view the end from thebeginning— the resultsnowattained are as much a matter of wonderment as of admiration. Yefc so familiarised has the public eyo become with these artistic triumphs that achievements which have tasked the skill of men and women posseeaing no mean attainments as artists, are passed over almost without notice. We can, however, neither calculate nor define the influence of this art education upon the popular taste, but the very fact that an expanding trade encourages publishers to persevere, and provokes them to more elaborate and costly efforts, by the employment of higher talent a«d tho reproduction or more difficult effects, is proof enough that education is thorough, far-reaching, and discriminating. The rivalry of publishers has indeed called-into being a Nemesis which threatens to pursue them to the death, because it is doubtful whether even an educated populace unskilled in technical details can fully appreciate the laborious and costly nature of the processes which are requisite for the production of those minor shades of effect that rivet the attention of the connoisseur though undiacerned by the casual admirer, who is satisfied with a general sense of beauty. Among the firms who hare made a special feature of fine art publishing, especially for Christmas, none nave attained greater celebrity than Messrs Raphael, Tuck and Son?, of London, Paris, Berlin, and New York : and their collection of Christmas novelties for the approaching season completely eclipses all former efforts. To show the magnitude of tho trade it need only be mentioned that this firm alone have 3,000 new designs. The list includes cards of every shape—humourous and sentimental, cards monochrome and cards coloured, embossed cards and flat, an iridescent series and private cards, gem panels and Mizpah cards, the rustic and the frosted, the folding series, the rainbow gold, jewel cards, crayons and booklets, and a crowd of others in over-yarying and endless profusion. The poetry for their cards is a special department under the firm's editress, Helen Marion Burnside. It would be utterly impossible to discriminate in points of merit and exquisite finish among this vast assortment.' Each has its own' charm, appealing to individual tastes. , Among the specialties for the year in the way of illustrated books and booklets; 'however, wo believe our old friend » The Jackdaw of Rheims," il-

lustvated In monochrome, will specially hit the popular taste on the huirorous side, while "The Sower and the S«ed," set in verso by Helen Marion Burnside, and illustrated by N. J; Webb," will command the favour of those more seriously inclined. The pansy •shaped booklet " Remembrance," verses by Edith Prince Snowden and pictorial designs in monochrome by Florence Prince and Amy Sawyer, is also sure to moet with a very popular sale. For children there is nothing prettier than "Golden Buttercups, ' by Helen Marion Bnrnside. The firm's publications cover a very wide range — from penny cards up to cards saleable at a guinea a piece — bub even amongst the cheaper issues, the average standard of excellence is kept bo high that the most simple card?, in their own way, command an admiration scarcely lee« pronounced than that which is irresistably drawn forth by the more elaborate and expensive efforts. Their gem porcelain panels and hand-painted porcelains excel, in variety, excellence, and price, all previous efforts in this department, and their hand-painted novelties include a multitude of subjects treated in a moet attractive way.