UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

The Mill

Impression: Freer Gallery of Art
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 (Graphic with a link to impression #K4130103, Graphic with a link to impression #K4130103). 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 (Graphic with a link to impression #K4130z03).
Later impressions are on various papers, including the favourite ivory laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K4130502), and on light-weight ivory laid paper with flecks of fibre (Graphic with a link to impression #K4130504) but also on cream Japan (Graphic with a link to impression #K4130503) and thin ivory laid Asian paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K4130505).