A Hardy Annual by E.V. Lucas (1914)
An interviewer encounters a tired man at the private view of the Academy who explains that his work, though seasonal, is demanding: he names pictures for the Exhibitions. He points to his titles printed in the catalogues, citing "Cold flows the Winter river" as an example of his effective work. When the interviewer suggests such a title is simple enough for the artist to devise unaided, the titler insists artists can only paint, not name, and that naming requires a special skill they lack. He offers a second example, "It was the Time of Roses," explaining that its apparent ease conceals the real secret of his success: not merely having read Hood, but remembering the line at the right moment. He then cites "East and West," unpacking its subtlety — an English girl representing the West holding a Japanese fan representing the East — while noting he is not usually so tricky, generally preferring a line of poetry or an apt descriptive phrase. He rattles off further examples of his titles: "Rivals," "Awaiting Spring's Return," "The Forest Perilous," "When Nature Sleeps," "The Coming Storm," "Sunshine and Shadow," "Waiting," "The Farmer's Daughter," and "A Haunt of Ancient Peace." He insists that although these titles look automatic and effortless, they in fact require real work, comparing the principle to the saying that hard writing makes easy reading. He admits he cannot fully explain his gift, calling it uncanny, and notes that kind friends have termed it genius. Asked whether the financial rewards match the effort, he concedes they do not always, citing the expense of travelling to the studios by taxi and the mental wear and tear involved, though he adds that he manages to live nonetheless.
By E.V. Lucas · First published 1914 · Genre: Essay, Satire, Humor/Comic Writing · 709 words
First lines
The Interviewer's Bag
"You look very tired," I said.
What this Textopian page supports
A Hardy Annual is listed on Textopian as a short story by E.V. Lucas, dated 1914 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: E.V. Lucas
- Date: 1914 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Essay, Satire, Humor/Comic Writing, Social Commentary, Sketch Writing
- Length: 709 words
- Structure: 1 section, 15 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Hardy Annual by E.V. Lucas
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Essay — The piece is structured as a conversational interview/dialogue essay, a form E.V. Lucas was known for, presenting observed social interaction and commentary in first-person narrative.
- Satire — The work satirizes artistic pretension and the self-importance of someone whose job is naming artworks, gently mocking the elevation of mundane creative labor into 'genius' and 'uncanny gift'.
- Humor/Comic Writing — The piece relies on witty dialogue, ironic observations, and comedic timing, with the narrator's dry responses and the subject's earnest self-promotion creating humor through contrast.
- Social Commentary — The work critiques Victorian and Edwardian artistic culture, examining how society validates and monetizes seemingly trivial expertise and the gap between actual skill and perceived expertise.
Tags
art exhibitions · picture titling · satire · interview format · London · artistic pretension · exhibition catalogues · poetic titles · ironic humor · professional vanity · Royal Academy · art world