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Renaissance Window

Impression: Freer Gallery of Art
Freer Gallery of Art
(1894.21)
Number: 417
Date: 1888
Medium: etching and drypoint
Size: 179 x 128 mm
Signed: butterfly at upper left
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 2
Known impressions: 2
Catalogues: K.390; M.391
Impressions taken from this plate  (2)

TECHNIQUE

There are isolated areas of focus - the figures in the foreground, the windows and top of the arch - with spaces between. These details were drawn with broken lines, and small irregular patches of neat shading. The shadows of the parasol and windows were greatly reinforced in the second state, with fine shading and cross-hatching in etching and drypoint. Some of the early outlines look under-etched and spotty, and there are a lot of specks from foul biting or deterioration of the plate, making the area look as if it is infested by flies.

PRINTING

Three impressions are recorded, of which two have been located. These are of the second state. One is printed in black ink on ivory Asian laid paper, with pale tone (Graphic with a link to impression #K3900202). The other is in dark brown ink, again with light plate tone, on Japanese paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K3900203). Both are trimmed to the platemark and signed on the tab with Whistler's butterfly and 'imp' to show that he had printed them.