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Doorway, Stables - Loches

Impression: Hunterian Art Gallery
Hunterian Art Gallery
(46989)
Number: 416
Date: 1888
Medium: etching and drypoint
Size: 148 x 80 mm
Signed: butterfly at upper centre
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 2
Known impressions: 5
Catalogues: K.377; M.377
Impressions taken from this plate  (5)

TECHNIQUE

The first state is etched. The curious, busy, spacially confusing composition was drawn quickly, with long scrawly outlines and broad, irregular patches of shading and zigzags to indicate texture, shadows, foliage etc. The figures were summarised with a few expressive lines, implying movement, but not finished in any detail. Smaller areas of regular drypoint shading were added in the second state, creating rich shadows in the doorways.

PRINTING

Two impressions were kept by Whistler and passed on his death to Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958) and from her to the University of Glasgow (Graphic with a link to impression #K3770203 and Graphic with a link to impression #K3770103). One of these, a first state printed in brown ink on ivory laid paper, has pencil additions to the woman on the balcony (Graphic with a link to impression #K3770203).
Few impressions were printed. One of the first state was inscribed '1st proof -' by the artist (Graphic with a link to impression #K3770102). Impressions were printed in dark brown ink on laid paper (i.e. Graphic with a link to impression #K3770102, Graphic with a link to impression #K3770103, Graphic with a link to impression #K3770104). Most were trimmed to the platemark and signed on the tab with Whistler's butterfly and 'imp.' to show he printed them. One, however, was trimmed on three sides but not at the bottom, although Whistler got as far as adding his butterfly and 'imp.' under the platemark, and this was sold to Bryan Lathrop (1844-1916) before 1900 (Graphic with a link to impression #K3770202). Finally, one has a tab but no signature, and remained in Whistler's possession - presumably he planned to sign it before selling it (Graphic with a link to impression #K3770103).