UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

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Little Arthur

Impression: Freer Gallery of Art
Freer Gallery of Art
(1898.227)
Number: 8
Date: 1857/1858
Medium: etching
Size: 81 x 54 (K5) 57 x 48 mm
Signed: 'J.W.' at lower left (1-3); 'Whistler' at lower right (2-3); removed (4); 'Whistler' at lower left (4).
Inscribed: 'Imp. Delatre. Rue. St. Jacques. 171.' at lower left (3)
Set/Publication: 'French Set', 1858
No. of States: 4
Known impressions: 61
Catalogues: K.9; M.7; T.8; W.13
Impressions taken from this plate  (61)

TECHNIQUE

An elaborate combination of lines creates a densely worked image: the face, carefully drawn in detail, is shadowed with fine, slightly curving cross-hatching. The dress and shadows to right consist of three- and four-way crosshatching, with additional curving lines suggesting the roundness of the figure. Long strokes outline and define the legs, with curving cross-hatching added for shadows. Short curvy and zig-zag lines and dashes suggest a furry rug. The hair is drawn with wavy lines. Cross-hatched lines were partly rubbed out, producing a textured background at upper left.

PRINTING

There are only two known impressions of the first (Graphic with a link to impression #K0090102, Graphic with a link to impression #K0090101) and two of the second state (Graphic with a link to impression #K0090201, Graphic with a link to impression #K0090202). At least ten impressions of the third state exist (including Graphic with a link to impression #K0090306, Graphic with a link to impression #K0090304, Graphic with a link to impression #K0090303). Most known impressions are from the final state, with over 30 impressions recorded (including Graphic with a link to impression #K0090503, Graphic with a link to impression #K0090504, Graphic with a link to impression #K0090505).
Many impressions of both the third and final state were printed in black or very dark brown ink with very little tone on thin Asian paper laid down on wove paper (chine appliqué) ( Graphic with a link to impression #K0090305). The Asian paper varied in colour, from off-white or grey (Graphic with a link to impression #K0090502, Graphic with a link to impression #K0090506), to tan or buff (Graphic with a link to impression #K0090507, Graphic with a link to impression #K0090522). A few impressions, however, were printed on western laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K0090310, Graphic with a link to impression #K0090519) including 'antique' (pre-1800) cream laid (Graphic with a link to impression #K0090303), such as one on similar paper with an indistinct countermark (Graphic with a link to impression #K0090311), and another on ivory laid with a partial Strasbourg Lily watermark (Graphic with a link to impression #K0090514).