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230
CONTEMPORARY ART
one imagine that when the war is over it will
be found that the new movement in France
is dead or dying. In little periodicals, photographs,
brochures, letters, and stray works
that from time to time cross the Channel there
is plenty of evidence that it is as vital as ever.
Even a European war cannot kill a thing of
that sort. The question is whether, after the
war, young English artists will realize that
they too, by reason of their vocation, of the
truth that is in them, belong to a communion
wider and far more significant than the con-
venticle to which they were bred. England,
we hear, is to wake up after the war and take
her place in a league of nations. May we hope
that young English artists will venture to take
theirs in an international league of youth ?
That league existed before the war ; but
English painters appear to have preferred
being pigmies amongst cranes to being artists
amongst artists. Aurons-nous change tout
fa ? Qui vivra verra. The league exists ; its
permanent headquarters are in Paris ; and
from London to Paris is two hundred and fifty
miles a journey of seven and a half hours in
times of peace.