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The Square House, Amsterdam

Impression: Hunterian Art Gallery
Hunterian Art Gallery
(46641)
Number: 454
Date: 1889
Medium: etching and drypoint
Size: 231 x 175 mm
Signed: butterfly at upper right
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 7
Known impressions: 16
Catalogues: K.404; M.403; W.261
Impressions taken from this plate  (16)

TECHNIQUE

The composition is basically etching with extensive, delicate shading in drypoint, which was augmented and revised during seven states.

PRINTING

No impressions of the first state have been located (Graphic with a link to impression #K4040100), and only one of the second (Graphic with a link to impression #K4040001). An impression of the third state was printed in dark brown ink on ivory Japan (Graphic with a link to impression #K4040105). Most impressions were printed in brown ink, and the majority on ivory laid papers (Graphic with a link to impression #K4040102, Graphic with a link to impression #K4040207, Graphic with a link to impression #K4040103, Graphic with a link to impression #K4040203) as well as buff 'antique' (pre-1800) laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K4040209), cream laid (Graphic with a link to impression #K4040107), and one on soft ivory laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K4040108).
Whistler did occasionally number and/or date his Amsterdam prints as they came off the press. One impression of the final state of The Square House, Amsterdam is inscribed '1. Feb. 23' in pencil on the verso and also 'Selected for / Chs. Freer' (Graphic with a link to impression #K4040203). This probably means it was the first proof printed on 23 February 1890. What is presumably the second impression is similarly numbered '2. Feb 23 -' (Graphic with a link to impression #K4040204) These notations are written in tiny letters and similar notes may have been rubbed off other impressions.
Although most were printed in brown, a few are in black ink, one final state being on ivory Japan (Graphic with a link to impression #K4040202). Other impressions of the final state are in dark brown ink on a range of papers including ivory (Graphic with a link to impression #K4040204) and cream (Graphic with a link to impression #K4040206) laid; ivory laid watermarked 'PRO PATRIA' (Graphic with a link to impression #K4040208); and ivory Japan (Graphic with a link to impression #K4040205).