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Hôtel de la Croix Blanche

Impression: Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago
(1917.584)
Number: 395
Date: 1888
Medium: etching
Size: 177 x 126 mm
Signed: butterfly at upper right
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 2
Known impressions: 3
Catalogues: K.373; M.373
Impressions taken from this plate  (3)

TECHNIQUE

Hôtel de la Croix Blanche is pure etching. A number of faint lines at lower left appear unrelated to the final subject and are likely remnants of an earlier idea or earlier subject on the plate.
This is a comparatively detailed scene, drawn to the edge of the plate at all sides. After outlining the main architectural features with a few long lines, it was drawn with a variety of short lines. Jerky, nervous, wriggly short lines describe the foliage, figures and poultry. Small patches of shading and zigzag lines, and denser, closely worked areas of fine shading, describe the texture, shadows, and reflections.

PRINTING

Only three impressions of Hôtel de la Croix Blanche have been located (Graphic with a link to impression #K3730102, Graphic with a link to impression #K3730202, Graphic with a link to impression #K3730203). The first state was printed in black ink on ivory laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K3730102), the second state is similar, on laid paper with a 'PRO PATRIA' watermark (Graphic with a link to impression #K3730202) and on 'antique' (pre-1800) laid paper with a partial watermark (Graphic with a link to impression #K3730203). The latter appears to be numbered 'No 3' or 'No 5'. They are trimmed to the platemark and signed on the tab with a butterfly and 'imp.' to show that Whistler printed them.