Pound's remark in 1913 is of course interesting, but Kandinsky had already painted in 1910 what some take to be the first non-represntational paintings of the modernist movement, though this does not quite do justice to cubist work in France, and the work of some futurists. Kandinsky's "Concerning the Spiritual in Art" says a lot about the effects of color as a spiritual "note." I suppose the point is that Pound is partly reacting to things in the art world, and not prophetically predicting something never seen before. I want to add that as such statements were being made, the speakers often found them re-understanding the art of the past, realizing that it was never really representatinal in the weay some had taken it to be in any very convincing sense. I haven't said this very well, but I suppose I just wanted to point out that 1913 is early in relation to Rothko, but not all that early in relation to Kandinsky and others. Date sent: Sat, 8 Feb 2003 13:44:21 -0500 Send reply to: - Ezra Pound discussion list of the University of Maine <[log in to unmask]> From: Tom Walsh <[log in to unmask]> Subject: The Prophet To: [log in to unmask] To our List, During my search for a work on Pound, at the local "computerized catalog" library, I came across a Pound reference in, of all places, a work called "Interpretations of Life, A Study of Contemporary Literature" by Will and Ariel Durant. Yes, I see your expressions, as you read this. I was about to put it back on the shelf, but opened it to the back index, and noticed the Pound reference pages. Of course, they write off Pound as a "crossword puzzle for the leisure class" who was involved with "playing a game of hide-and-seek" with his readers. Hmmm. But, before I slammed shut the book, one of their footnotes, cited from Charles Norman's "Ezra Pound", caught my eye. It showed what a creative, prophetic, and artistic mind he possessed. Here's the quote: "In 1913, Pound wrote: 'If I were a painter...I might found a new school of painting, of non-representative painting, a painting that would speak only by arrangements of color.' " Isn't this exactly how modern art evolved? Modern artists of our day spoke with these "arrangements of color." Large color canvas, sometimes an entire wall of color, affected the space around them, to light our consciousness, and dove-tail our existence with pure element. I can't remember exact names, but Klee and Rothko come to mind as masters of color. And so, too, did Pound paint with pen and pencil. But, instead of using his proposed colors, he used the words of History to tie together the bright and elusive ribbons of philosophy, religion, and culture, and provide us with a canvas of Cantos forever. Tom NJ --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.449 / Virus Database: 251 - Release Date: 1/27/2003 Von Underwood [log in to unmask]