UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

Etchings         Institutions search term: freer gallery

Children, Portsmouth

Impression: Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago
(1937.173)
Number: 301
Date: 1887
Medium: etching
Size: 67 x 99 mm
Signed: butterfly at lower right
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 1
Known impressions: 6
Catalogues: K.323; M.311
Impressions taken from this plate  (6)

TECHNIQUE

This is pure etching, mostly drawn with sweeping curved and hooked broken lines, dots and dashes, with a few small areas of shading on the distant boats and the figure seated on a boat at left.

PRINTING

The record of printing of the 'Naval Review Set' is very full, but not always comprehensible. According to one list, six impressions of Portsmouth, Children were printed by 19 August 1887, another one on 28 August and four on 1 September. 7 On 18 July 1889 Whistler noted having three still in stock. 8

7: List, [18-23 August 1887], GUW #13233.

8: GUW #13235.

Of the impressions located, all were printed on laid paper, without watermarks, several in dark brown ink, on ivory (Graphic with a link to impression #K3230102), darkened cream (Graphic with a link to impression #K3230105) and cream 'antique' (pre-1800) paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K3230106). Others are in black ink on buff (Graphic with a link to impression #K3230106) and on ivory paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K3230103, Graphic with a link to impression #K3230104). All were trimmed to the platemark and signed on a tab with Whistler's butterfly signature and 'imp.' to show that he printed them.