UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

Landscape with Horses

Impression: Hunterian Art Gallery
Hunterian Art Gallery
(54871)
Number: 45
Date: 1859
Medium: etching and drypoint
Size: 128 x 205 mm
Signed: 'Whistler.' at lower left
Inscribed: '1859.' at lower left
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 2
Known impressions: 32
Catalogues: K.36; M.35; T.23; W.46
Impressions taken from this plate  (32)

TECHNIQUE

Thomas commented, 'Second state is much worked upon, and like most of Mr Whistler's etchings, direct from nature'. 14 The composition was altered by the addition of the second horse in the second state and complex texture and details were then added in drypoint.

14: Thomas 1874 (cat. no. 23).

PRINTING

Less than ten impressions of the first state have been located. Whistler wrote on one of these, '1st. State.' (Graphic with a link to impression #K0360108).
Over twenty of the second state have been found. Considering the condition of the plate in some of these (it was deeply pitted (Graphic with a link to impression #K0360207) this is a quite surprising number. It was printed in black ink, early impressions being printed on buff or browned wove paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K0360102, Graphic with a link to impression #K0360108, Graphic with a link to impression #K0360109); cream 'modern' (post-1800) laid paper taken from a book (Graphic with a link to impression #K0360103); and laid paper with light brown fibres (Graphic with a link to impression #K0360104, Graphic with a link to impression #K0360107). These slightly rough or textured papers complement the grainy pitting of the plate. An impression of the second state is on a similar laid paper with brown fibres (Graphic with a link to impression #K0360207).
Other later impressions, still in black, are on a wide range of papers. European papers include ivory laid papers with the Strasbourg Lily watermark (Graphic with a link to impression #K0360203) and 'DAV' (Graphic with a link to impression #K0360210); and cream 'antique' laid page from a book, with a large watermark, possibly the royal crest with the motto 'Honi soit ...' (Graphic with a link to impression #K0360222). Asian papers include good quality, heavy-weight textured cream Japanese 'laid' (Graphic with a link to impression #K0360204); opaque light-weight Asian 'laid', possibly proofing paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K0360205); dark cream chine collé (Graphic with a link to impression #K0360218); thin ivory Japan tissue, with a chalky surface (Graphic with a link to impression #K0360220); and good quality dark ivory Japanese wove paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K0360221).
The plate was steel-faced and may have been printed after Whistler's death.