UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

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Axenfeld

Impression: Freer Gallery of Art
Freer Gallery of Art
(1898.304)
Number: 68
Date: 1860
Medium: drypoint
Size: 230 x 153 mm
Signed: 'Whistler.' at lower left (2-final)
Inscribed: '1860.' at lower left (2-final)
Set/Publication: 'Cancelled Plates', 1879
No. of States: 6
Known impressions: 31
Catalogues: K.64; M.64; T.52; W.61
Impressions taken from this plate  (31)

STATE

Six states are known before cancellation.

State 1

Impression: K0640102
There is no signature or inscription.
There is no shading in the background.

State 2

Impression: K0640201
Signed and dated 'Whistler. 1860.' ('6' in reverse) at lower left.
The background is partly drawn in, with a curtain roughly outlined and shading added to left of the man's head and to right of his neck; the face is fully modelled and shaded; his shoulders have been lowered and narrowed, with the changes disguised by heavy shading either side of the neck and shoulders.

State 3

Impression: K0640202
Light vertical shading fills the space behind the man's head at upper right.

State 4

Impression: K0640301
The figure is completed, including the right hand, holding a cigarette; the jacket and trousers are defined and shaded further; there are additional patches of vertical shading in the background, each side of the head and shoulders, and reaching to the plate edge at upper right.

State 5

Impression: K0640z02
The shading in the background at right is augmented and extended behind the man's back with more vertical lines; the back of the jacket is darkened.

State 6

Impression: K0640302
More shading is added in an area behind the man's head at upper right.
The drypoint shading varies according to the wear and inking of the plate.

State 6 (cancelled)

Impression: K0640407
Cancelled with numerous crossed diagonal lines across the figure.