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The Pool

Impression: Freer Gallery of Art
Freer Gallery of Art
(1888.34)
Number: 49
Date: 1859
Medium: etching and drypoint
Size: 140 x 217 mm
Signed: 'Whistler.' at lower left
Inscribed: '1859.' at lower left
Set/Publication: 'Thames Set', 1871
No. of States: 6
Known impressions: 85
Catalogues: K.43; M.42; T.47; W.41
Impressions taken from this plate  (85)

TECHNIQUE

In the first proof, the figure and boat are etched and the outlines of the background are sketched in drypoint; in addition, there is a grey area of fine, granular tone or foul bite on the man's body, which has the qualities of open bite/lavis.

PRINTING

Over eighty impressions are known. There are single impressions of the first three states; the first state (Graphic with a link to impression #K0430102), and third (Graphic with a link to impression #K0430301) have been located, but the second has not. A large edition - two dozen - of the fourth state has been located, printed in black ink on a variety of papers: ivory chine collé (Graphic with a link to impression #K0430309); Japanese (Graphic with a link to impression #K0430302); laid, including one with the watermark of a shield and a crown topped by a crescent (Graphic with a link to impression #K0430305); and wove paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K0430321).
There are at least 30 impressions of the sixth state in public collections. A number are printed in black ink on laid paper with the 'DEDB' or 'De Erven De Blauw' watermark (Graphic with a link to impression #K0430419, Graphic with a link to impression #K0430403, Graphic with a link to impression #K0430405, Graphic with a link to impression #K0430426). Most in fact are printed in black ink, usually on laid paper, including sheets watermarked or with 'Pro Patria' (Graphic with a link to impression #K0430402), an indecipherable name (Graphic with a link to impression #K0430420), a crown and initials and (Graphic with a link to impression #K0430323), and a crowned griffin (Graphic with a link to impression #K0430416). Others are on Asian papers (Graphic with a link to impression #K0430317, Graphic with a link to impression #K0430424), including cream Japan (Graphic with a link to impression #K0430423) and a translucent Japanese paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K0430z06).
About 1862, Whistler recorded either the number of impressions printed, or more likely the number of impressions of some etchings in stock: 'Limehouse 10. / Tunnel pier 2. / Black Lion 8. /Graveur - 2 / Thames Police. 20 / Tyzack 5.' 12

12: [May 1862/1864?], GUW #12745, p. 38.

Several sets of the cancelled plates of the 'Thames Set' were printed, again, in black ink, one on ivory wove paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K0430503).