UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

The Dyer

Impression: Freer Gallery of Art
Freer Gallery of Art
(1888.32)
Number: 192
Date: 1879/1880
Medium: etching and drypoint
Size: 306 x 240 mm
Signed: butterfly at left
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 10
Known impressions: 18
Catalogues: K.219; M.216; W.189
Impressions taken from this plate  (18)

TECHNIQUE

Whistler made only small changes to this plate until the final states. The first known proof shows work in both etching and drypoint, and drypoint was used in succeeding states to refine the figure of the dyer, the shading of the background, the steps and the reflections. Whistler apparently became dissatisfied with the dyer and his drapery, first reducing the work on the figure, next removing the figure and drapery, then redrawing at least part of the drapery and reflections, and, ultimately, sketching in a new figure. At that point, work on the copper plate ceased.
Whistler retained five impressions, including unique early proofs (Graphic with a link to impression #K2190001, Graphic with a link to impression #K2190002) and a counterproof (Graphic with a link to impression #K2190003), which were in the studio at his death.

PRINTING

The first proof appears to have been printed in black ink with rather uneven plate tone, but it has not been located (Graphic with a link to impression #K2190101). Subsequent impressions were usually printed with deep plate tone, wiped to suggest reflections in the water (i.e. Graphic with a link to impression #K2190z01). Apparently each early proof was a different state. The third state - dating from 1880, and obviously printed in Venice - was in black ink on ivory laid paper with the Venetian watermark of three crescents (Graphic with a link to impression #K2190102). 6

6: See C. James, C. Corrigan, M.C. Enshaian, M.G. Greca (M.B. Cohn ed.), Old Master Prints and Drawings: A Guide to Preservation and Conservation, Amsterdam 1997, p. 53.

The fourth state also appears to date from about 1880, but later states appear to have been trimmed and signed with Whistler's butterfly between about 1885 and 1887. They are printed in dark brown or brown/black ink, also with plate tone; one of three known fifth states, for instance, has an 'RK' countermark (Graphic with a link to impression #K2190203), and another was on 'antique' (pre-1800) laid paper with the Arms of Amsterdam watermark (Graphic with a link to impression #K2190303). A sixth state in black ink also has this Amsterdam watermark (Graphic with a link to impression #K2190302). It is possible these were printed in response to repeated pleas from print dealers for impressions of The Dyer. 7

7: e.g. E.G.Kennedy to Whistler, 4 February 1888, GUW #07155.

Most impressions, except the working proofs kept by Whistler, were trimmed to the platemark and signed on a tab with his butterfly and 'imp.' to show that he had printed them. However, three heavily inked impressions of the eighth state are not so signed, and although one is trimmed to the platemark (Graphic with a link to impression #K2190404), the other two are not (Graphic with a link to impression #K2190402, Graphic with a link to impression #K2190406). They look like fairly rough impressions, possibly printed by an assistant, possibly proofs. One is in dark brown ink on cream 'antique' laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K2190404), but another is heavily inked and printed on fine ivory laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K2190402).
Impressions of the ninth and tenth states appear to be experimental proofs, unevenly inked. There are ninth states in brown ink on cream (Graphic with a link to impression #K2190001), ivory laid (Graphic with a link to impression #K2190502) and thick ivory laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K2190002) the latter with the Strasbourg Lily 'F1' watermark. Two of these are signed with a small butterfly that may date from the 1890s (Graphic with a link to impression #K2190001, Graphic with a link to impression #K2190502).
Finally, an impression of the final state was printed in dark brown ink on off-white laid paper with the watermark 'HARRIS & McM[URDO] / 1814' (Graphic with a link to impression #K2190602), and a counterproof of this taken on what is now buff, probably darkened, paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K2190003). No further work was done on the plate.