UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

Sketching

Impression: Freer Gallery of Art
Freer Gallery of Art
(1898.316)
Number: 83
Date: 1861
Medium: etching and drypoint
Size: 120 x 166 mm
Signed: 'Whistler - ' at lower right (1-3); partly removed (4-final)
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: Junior Etching Club, 1862
No. of States: 6
Known impressions: 35
Catalogues: K.86; M.87; T.86; W.69
Impressions taken from this plate  (35)

TECHNIQUE

The main composition was etched but then it was strengthened in drypoint throughout, to achieve a slightly richer effect.

PRINTING

Whistler worked on this etching in the printing workshop of Day & Son Ltd in London. An impression of the first state was annotated by the artist 'Proof pulled myself in Day's, wants retouching - ready in a day or so.' 14 This impression has not been located.

The second state, 'retouched' by Whistler, was printed with burr on early impressions, on, for example, ivory wove (Graphic with a link to impression #K0860203); off-white wove (Graphic with a link to impression #K0860205); chine collé (Graphic with a link to impression #K0860206); and light weight, cream Asian paper laid down on heavy weight, ivory plate paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K0860001). All extant impressions are printed on black ink.

Regarding the publication of this etching by Day & Son Ltd, Frederick Goulding (1842-1909) told the Pennells:

14: American Art Association, Masterpieces of Engraving and Etching ... Collection of Henry Graves, Jr., New York City, Anderson Art Galleries, 3 April 1936 (lot. no. 64).

'What can I say about Whistler printing? I mind me I first knew him about 1859, when he used to come to the printing house where I was apprenticed (the old firm of Day and Son in Gate Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields) and print himself at my father's press. I used some times to act as his "devil" grinding the ink, and turning the press, and so on. / I think the first plate I actually "proved" for him was in 1861 - The Punt -' 15

15: Pennell 1908, I, pp. 91-92.

The publication actually appeared in 1862. Most examples of the third, published, state are on chine collé (i.e. Graphic with a link to impression #K0860403, Graphic with a link to impression #K0860304, Graphic with a link to impression #K0860305 ), and fourth states on wove paper (i.e. Graphic with a link to impression #K0860407, Graphic with a link to impression #K0860409, Graphic with a link to impression #K0860402, Graphic with a link to impression #K0860207). Over thirty impressions are recorded in public art collections, but there are many more in public libraries and private collections.