DLA019-0226  Transcription  

8th August, 1932.

Dear Mr. Kornitzer,

I wish to acknowledge your letter of July 15th.^[1] I have been so busy lately that I have been unable to reply earlier, and do so now just before leaving for the country.

The drawings you kindly sent to me I am returning herewith. They show ability and observation, within the faces sufficient expression, but if you wish to hear an honest criticism – as I cannot do otherwise – I would ask you to try more definitely and in more detail before you go in too much for portrait painting. Without an absolutely thorough grounding you may easily drift into superficiality, and you must not let yourself be influenced by modern impressionistic fragmentary, sketchy painting.

Regarding what you say about coming to London, I can only advise you, if you want to study further, rather to go to Paris, where you would find the Julien School of Art, where I studied. You would find the right spirit for a young artist student there. Lately many young Hungarian artists have come here, and have soon returned to Hungary disappointed, as it is very difficult here, even for the native artists. Paris is much more arranged to receive foreign students

I wish to congratulate you on the success you have already had in portrait drawing, but I repeat, do not be inspired thereby to paint too many portraits yet, and try to get more tuition.

Yours sincerely,

SMDL

01/07/2018