UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

The Dam Wood

Impression: Freer Gallery of Art
Freer Gallery of Art
(1906.106)
Number: 133
Date: 1874/1875
Medium: drypoint
Size: 177 x 113 mm
Signed: butterfly at right (3-final)
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 4
Known impressions: 11
Catalogues: K.145; M.143; W.120
Impressions taken from this plate  (11)

TECHNIQUE

This is entirely drypoint, although the needle has tripped at times when drawing long lines, creating a roulette-like effect.

PRINTING

One impression of the first state was printed in black ink on ivory laid paper with an Arms of Amsterdam watermark (Graphic with a link to impression #K1450102), and another on cream Japan (Graphic with a link to impression #K1450106) paper. A second state in black ink is on an unevenly cut sheet of ivory laid paper with 'Pro Patria' watermark, possibly from a book (Graphic with a link to impression #K1450202), and others also on laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K1450104, Graphic with a link to impression #K1450103). The third state was printed in dark brown ink on a sheet of ivory laid paper, possibly with a 'V' or 'IV' countermark, which was definitely taken from a book, with the binding holes visible along the left edge (Graphic with a link to impression #K1450303). The final state, like the first, is on Arms of Amsterdam paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K1450306). Most were printed with a broad margin but two (a second and a fourth state) were trimmed to the platemark and signed with a butterfly on the tab by Whistler years later, presumably for sale (Graphic with a link to impression #K1450104, Graphic with a link to impression #K1450302).