UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

Etchings         Institutions search term: obach

Bridge, Amsterdam

Impression: Freer Gallery of Art
Freer Gallery of Art
(1906.119)
Number: 447
Date: 1889
Medium: etching and drypoint
Size: 165 x 241 mm
Signed: no
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 5
Known impressions: 13
Catalogues: K.409; M.409; W.267
Impressions taken from this plate  (13)

TECHNIQUE

An extremely complex web of line, cross hatching and shading in both etching and drypoint, developed through five states. Whistler extended the detailed shapes and textures to the edge of the plate except at upper right.

PRINTING

The '1st proof pulled' was printed on buff 'antique' (pre-1800) laid paper, with soft tone, delicately wiped in curving horizontal strokes (Graphic with a link to impression #K4090104). Early impressions were printed in brown ink on ivory laid paper with the watermark of a Hunting horn in a shield (Graphic with a link to impression #K4090102) as well as in black (Graphic with a link to impression #K4090202) or dark brown ink (Graphic with a link to impression #K4090203) on ivory laid paper; and the final state was printed in a very dark brown ink, on cream 'antique' textured laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K4090307) and ivory laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K4090304). All are trimmed to the platemark and signed on a tab with the butterfly and 'imp.' to show that Whistler printed them.
After Whistler's death three impressions were printed by Nathaniel Sparks (1880-1956) at the request of Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958). On 18 June 1931 Sparks sketched the plate and later recorded in his distinctive and practically illegible writing:
'Plate in good condition
Amsterdam bridge - / Figures on bridge
6/5/32
(Three proofs) Etched Plate / with / Dry point: Burr removed.
(One on pailing paper -
Two on paper without a mark apparently).' - 10

10: Martin Hopkinson, 'Nathaniel Sparks's Printing of Whistler's Etchings', Print Quarterly, 1999, Vol. 16, No. 4, pp. 340, 345, 352.

Sparks's notes, and spelling, are not entirely clear. However, 'pailing' (a fence) suggests this was the Pro Patria watermark, and of the two known Sparks impressions, one is printed in dark brown ink on ivory laid paper with an obvious Pro Patria watermark (Graphic with a link to impression #K4090306). The other paper is similar but with no watermark (Graphic with a link to impression #K4090302) and this impression is reproduced below. They were signed on the verso by Sparks, and were not trimmed to the platemark, so that they could not be confused with lifetime impressions.
Impression: K4090302