UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

Etchings         Institutions search term: new york public library

Nursemaid and Child

Impression: National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
(1943.3.8421)
Number: 42
Date: 1859
Medium: etching and drypoint
Size: 99 x 134 mm
Signed: 'Whistler' at lower left
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 2
Known impressions: 35
Catalogues: K.37; M.36; T.21; W.34
Impressions taken from this plate  (35)

TECHNIQUE

The composition is etched, but drypoint enhances the richness of the child's cloak and hair and the woman's ribbons.

PRINTING

'Near Holloway - 1st State -' was written by Whistler on one impression (Graphic with a link to impression #K0370110). Most impressions were printed in black ink, on a variety of papers, including ivory 'antique' (pre-1800) laid paper, sometimes darkened to buff, with the watermark of a hunting/post horn on a shield (Graphic with a link to impression #K0370102, Graphic with a link to impression #K0370103, Graphic with a link to impression #K0370107); ivory 'antique' laid from a book, with binding indents (Graphic with a link to impression #K0370207); cream 'modern' laid (Graphic with a link to impression #K0370206); off-white 'modern' laid with Strasbourg Lily watermark (Graphic with a link to impression #K0370210); dark cream laid watermarked '1802' (Graphic with a link to impression #K0370215) and cream wove paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K0370106). One impression appears to be in dark brown rather than black ink, on ivory 'antique' laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K0370203).
Several are in black ink on Asian paper including cream gasenshi Japanese 'laid' paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K0370202); and ivory and cream Japanese 'laid' (Graphic with a link to impression #K0370208, Graphic with a link to impression #K0370218, Graphic with a link to impression #K0370z01).
The plate was steel-faced and it is probable that it was printed either in the 1890s or after Whistler's death.