Gray's Inn Place |  Freer Gallery of Art (1906.121) | |
| Number: | 281 | |
| Date: | 1887 | |
| Medium: | etching and drypoint | |
| Size: | 127 x 177 mm | |
| Signed: | butterfly at left | |
| Inscribed: | no | |
| Set/Publication: | no | |
| No. of States: | 2 | |
| Known impressions: | 6 | |
| Catalogues: | K.297; M.292 | |
| Impressions taken from this plate (6) | ||
TECHNIQUE
Most of the detail in this etching consists of irregular rows and patches of short strokes and zig-zag shading to convey the texture of the brick walls. Curving left to right diagonals (\\\) of drypoint augment the shadows on the ground of the passageway. Foul biting has been exploited to give texture to the walls and walkway, and a small patch of drypoint lines was added to the etching in the final state.
PRINTING
It is fairly rare, yet each impression is slightly different in effect, from the combination of ink colour and paper. Only one impression of the first state has been located, printed in black ink on ivory 'antique' (pre-1800) laid paper (
).
). An impression of the second state, numbered in Whistler's hand 'No. 3.' and 'Selected Proof' is also printed in black ink on ivory laid paper (). Another is in dark brown ink on a cream paper, possibly an Asian laid paper, and was inscribed 'Specially chosen. / 1st. State' () - and despite Whistler's note, it is the second state. Two others, one in brown () and one in black ink (), are both on ivory laid paper, the latter with an unusual Eagle watermark. All are trimmed to the platemark and signed on the tab with a butterfly and 'imp.' to show that Whistler had printed them.
). Another is in dark brown ink on a cream paper, possibly an Asian laid paper, and was inscribed 'Specially chosen. / 1st. State' () - and despite Whistler's note, it is the second state. Two others, one in brown () and one in black ink (), are both on ivory laid paper, the latter with an unusual Eagle watermark. All are trimmed to the platemark and signed on the tab with a butterfly and 'imp.' to show that Whistler had printed them.