UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

Etchings         Institutions search term: copley society

The Steps, Amsterdam

Impression: Freer Gallery of Art
Freer Gallery of Art
(1906.112)
Number: 452
Date: 1889
Medium: etching and drypoint
Size: 242 x 166 mm
Signed: butterfly at upper left
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 5
Known impressions: 14
Catalogues: K.403; M.402; W.260
Impressions taken from this plate  (14)

TECHNIQUE

This complex composition, with its intricate detail, atmospheric shading and subtle textures, was created mainly in etching, but there may have been some minor touches of drypoint to reinforce shading.

PRINTING

No impression of the first state has been located. An impression of the second state is inscribed '2nd proof pulled' by Whistler (Graphic with a link to impression #K4030z01) Several other impressions are annotated by Whistler, but it is not clear whether these are records of impressions printed on a particular day, or sorted for sale to a particular client. His notes are written in tiny letters and are sometimes almost illegible. An impression of the third state is annotated '3' but not dated (Graphic with a link to impression #K4030207). However, subsequent impressions appear to have been printed in late February 1890. One impression of the fourth state is numbered '2' and dated 23 February 1890 (Graphic with a link to impression #K4030307).
They were printed in dark brown ink on various papers, including the second state on 'antique' (pre-1800) laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K4030z01) and the third on thin wove tissue, possibly Asian paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K4030207). The main print run was in the fourth state, and included impressions on cream laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K4030204), one with an Arms of Amsterdam watermark (Graphic with a link to impression #K4030303); and on ivory laid (Graphic with a link to impression #K4030205), one on a sheet taken from a book (Graphic with a link to impression #K4030206); as well as on thin Asian ivory laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K4030307, Graphic with a link to impression #K4030305).
Two more, both impressions of the final state, are dated 7 March 1890, numbered '2' (Graphic with a link to impression #K4030302) and 'no. 3' (Graphic with a link to impression #K4030403). They were the second and third Dutch etchings printed on that day, one on cream Asian paper, thin as tissue (Graphic with a link to impression #K4030302) and the other on buff laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K4030403).