Breitmann In Holland

’S Gravenhage - The Hague

IN dis boem, mein freund der Herr Breitmann hafe his fiews on art pefore-geset mit a deepness und shorthood vich is bropably oonliked in Aesthetik. Ve hafe here, within de circumcomprehensifeness of dirty-two lines, a théorie vitch—shortsomely exbressed—sends to der teufel efery dings ash vas efer gescribed pefore on kunst or art, und maket efery podies from Baumgartner doun to Fischer und Taine, look shoost like puddin-headet old gasbalgs. Boot to de boem. For de informadion of dem ash ish not gestudied art, I vould shtate dat Adriaan Brauwer (who ish as regards an unvollkomene technik de first of all Holland malers), vas nefer paint nodings boot droonken plackguards und liederlich dings, und Van Ostade und Jan Steen vas in most deir bilds a goot deal like him.

—FRITZ SCHWACKENHAMMER.

Hans reitet troo de Nederland,
From Rotterdam below,
To Gravenhaag und Leyden
Und Haarlem—all a row;
He shtoodit in de galleries
A tausend works of art;
Boot ach—der Adriaan Brauwer,
Vent most teepest to his heart.

Und dus exglaim der Breitmann
In woonder-solemn shdrain,
“De cratest men vere Brauwer,
Van Ostadé, und Jan Steen.
Der Raffael vas vel enof;
Dat ish in his shmall vay;
Boot—Gott im Himmel!—vot vas he
Coompared mit soosh as dey?

“Shoost see dat vight of troonken boors—
Von tears de oder’s goat:
Vhile de oder mit a pointet knife
Ish goin for his troat.
Und a mädchen mit a tree-leg shtuhl
Ish clip him on de het,
In dese higher human passion valks,
Der Raffael’s coldt und deadt.

“De more ve digs into de eart’—
Or less ve seeks a star,—
De nearer ve to Natur coom,
More panthéistich far;
To him who reads dis myst’ry right,
Mit insbiration gifen,
Der Raffael’s rollen in de dirt,
Vhile Brauwer soars to Heafen.

The Breitmann Ballads - Contents | Glossary

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