THE art of Japan has none but an
exterior part in the history of the
art of nations. Being in its own
methods and attitude the art of
accident, it has, appropriately, an accidental
value. It is of accidental value, and not of
integral necessity. The virtual discovery of
Japanese art, during the later years of the
second French Empire, caused Europe to re-
learn how expedient, how delicate, and how
lovely Incident may look when Symmetry has
grown vulgar. The lesson was most welcome.
Japan has had her full influence. European
art has learnt the value of position and the
tact of the unique. But Japan is unlessoned,
and (in all her characteristic art) content with
her own conventions; she is local, provincial,
alien, remote, incapable of equal companion-
ship with a world that has Greek art in its
own history -- Pericles "to its father."

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