UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

Exeter Street

Impression: Hunterian Art Gallery
Hunterian Art Gallery
(54892)
Number: 274
Date: 1887
Medium: etching
Size: 128 x 177 mm
Signed: butterfly at left
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 2
Known impressions: 6
Catalogues: K.280; M.275
Impressions taken from this plate  (6)

TECHNIQUE

Both the original composition and the shading added in the second state are etched.

PRINTING

Impressions were printed on a range of slightly different papers, producing subtly different effects. One, possibly the first impression, was printed in dark brown ink on off-white light-weight 'antique' (pre-1800) laid paper with the watermark 'GR' (Graphic with a link to impression #K2800105), another on cream laid paper with an 'AS PRO PATRIA' watermark (Graphic with a link to impression #K2800107) and a third in brown ink on 'modern' laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K2800102). All are trimmed to the platemark and signed on a tab with the butterfly and 'imp.' to show that Whistler had printed them.
On 18 July 1889 Whistler noted that he had one impression in stock, but he may have printed a few more, for, in a list that was written between 1889 and about 1891, he recorded four unmounted impressions in stock. 5

5: GUW #13235, #13236.