UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

Etchings         Institutions search term: kupferstichkabinett berlin

J.H. Woods' Fruit Shop, Chelsea

Impression: Freer Gallery of Art
Freer Gallery of Art
(1888.20)
Number: 327
Date: 1887/1888
Medium: etching and drypoint
Size: 98 x 133 mm
Signed: no
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 4
Known impressions: 4
Catalogues: K.265; M.261
Impressions taken from this plate  (4)

TECHNIQUE

In this etching, drypoint was used sparingly in the second state. There was considerable foul biting on the plate, with a scatter of tiny acid droplets creating dense pitting. This, combined with the etched patterns, textures and details of the façade and goods for sale, makes for a highly complex effect.

PRINTING

There was probably a print-run of about ten impressions of J. H. Woods' Fruit Shop, Chelsea, judging by sales records and Whistler's notes of works in stock. On 9 December 1888 a note suggests that he had six impressions of this etching, but by 18 July 1889 he had only one. 10

10: [1888/1892], GUW #13241; #13235.

A variety of inks and papers were used including dark brown ink on ivory laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K2650204), one of these bearing a partial watermark, possibly 'PRO PATRIA' (Graphic with a link to impression #K2650202); black ink on off-white laid paper, again with a partial watermark, which looks like Foolscap (Graphic with a link to impression #K2650203); and brown ink on cream laid (Graphic with a link to impression #K2650z01). All are trimmed to the platemark and signed on a tab with the butterfly and 'imp.' to show that Whistler had printed them.