1913

Articles from 1913

The Armory Show of 1913 (Literary Digest, 1913)

In this article, The Mob as Art Critic, an anonymous reviewer gathered excerpts from assorted negative reviews concerning the New York Armory Show of 1913 in an attempt to show the often violent reaction the exhibit inspired.

‘The Baseless Fear of War” by Andrew Carnegie (The Independent, 1913)

Andrew Carnegie (1835 – 1919) tried his hand at clairvoyance and wrote this article in response to the constant plea for money from the U.S. Department of War, which he found completely unnecessary and excessive.

Our naval and military officials must dream of wars since most of them never even see one.

The Influence of the Natives on Rag Time Music (The Literary Digest, 1913)

A foremost scholar in the field of Native American Music insisted that the American Indian had a guiding roll in the development of Rag Time:

Most people instinctively assign it to the Negro; but the Indian also, according to Natalie Curtis Burlin (1875-1921), is to be credited with a hand in it. The syncopation, which is a predominant feature of all Rag Time,as she observes in ‘The Craftsman’, is an absolutely essential element in the songs of our North American Indians of many tribes.

Also discussed are the efforts of Geoffrey O’Hara to make the earliest recordings of Native American Music on behalf of the U.S. Library of Congress.

John Sloan Ridiculed Cubism (The Masses, 1913)

Although realist painter John Sloan (1871 – 1951) was one of the fortunate American painters to also be included in the 1913 Armory Show (he was also on the organizing committee), it did not mean that he was above ridiculing the European modernists who were enjoying the same prestige that he was.


To read an anti-Picasso review from that same period, click here.

A Church on Wheels (Literary Digest, 1913)

In our era we think nothing of bookmobiles and bloodmobiles or any number of other converted trucks and vans that are fashioned for various unique uses; this link will enable you to learn about a Catholic chapel-on-wheels (a.k.a. the Jesus-Jalopy, the Nun-Truck, the Pope Pick-Up, the Bishop-Bus) from 1913, that very well might have served as the inspiration for them all.

Scroll to Top