The Mill |  Freer Gallery of Art (1906.127) | |
| Number: | 457 | |
| Date: | 1889 | |
| Medium: | etching and drypoint | |
| Size: | 161 x 241 mm | |
| Signed: | butterfly at lower left | |
| Inscribed: | no | |
| Set/Publication: | no | |
| No. of States: | 6 | |
| Known impressions: | 13 | |
| Catalogues: | K.413; M.415 | |
| Impressions taken from this plate (13) | ||
TECHNIQUE
The main composition was etched, and drypoint shading augmented and co-ordinated the shadows as printing continued through six states. Some of the shading may have been rubbed down with charcoal to produce a softer, more even effect.
PRINTING
The first two proofs were printed in dark brown ink on light-weight ivory laid paper (
, ). In fact most are on ivory laid paper, though one, which is dated 'Jan 31', meaning that this etching was among the first printed, on 31 January 1890, is on paper that is now buff ().
, ). In fact most are on ivory laid paper, though one, which is dated 'Jan 31', meaning that this etching was among the first printed, on 31 January 1890, is on paper that is now buff (). Later impressions are on various papers, including the favourite ivory laid paper (), and on light-weight ivory laid paper with flecks of fibre () but also on cream Japan () and thin ivory laid Asian paper ().
), and on light-weight ivory laid paper with flecks of fibre () but also on cream Japan () and thin ivory laid Asian paper ().