Etchings Institutions search term: obach
Greenwich Park |  Freer Gallery of Art (1898.260) | |
| Number: | 41 | |
| Date: | 1859 | |
| Medium: | etching and drypoint | |
| Size: | 128 x 208 mm | |
| Signed: | 'Whistler.' at lower left | |
| Inscribed: | no | |
| Set/Publication: | no | |
| No. of States: | 3 | |
| Known impressions: | 38 | |
| Catalogues: | K.35; M.34; T.18; W.33 | |
| Impressions taken from this plate (38) | ||
TECHNIQUE
This is mostly etching, but in the second state drypoint was used to extend and enrich the textures and shadows.
PRINTING
An impression of the first state was printed in a warm black ink on cream laid paper (
). The second state was printed on medium-weight ivory laid (), and off-white heavy-weight plate paper (). One second state is in brown ink on cream laid paper with an indecipherable watermark ().
). The second state was printed on medium-weight ivory laid (), and off-white heavy-weight plate paper (). One second state is in brown ink on cream laid paper with an indecipherable watermark ().Most impressions are in the third state, of which there may have been a print-run of about twenty. They are printed on various papers including cream laid paper removed from a book (); ivory laid watermarked paper (possibly showing grapes) (); ivory laid paper with 'RC / 1804' countermark (); and ivory Japanese paper (, ).
); ivory laid watermarked paper (possibly showing grapes) (); ivory laid paper with 'RC / 1804' countermark (); and ivory Japanese paper (, ).Most are in black ink though there are several in dark brown ink, one for instance on an oatmeally, fibrous ivory laid paper () and one on ivory wove (, ). Several in brown ink are on cream 'modern' (post-1800) cream laid paper, one watermarked 'PRO PATRIA' (); and another with a faint 'P' water- or counter-mark ().
) and one on ivory wove (, ). Several in brown ink are on cream 'modern' (post-1800) cream laid paper, one watermarked 'PRO PATRIA' (); and another with a faint 'P' water- or counter-mark ().The copper plate was steel-faced and it is possible that some impressions of the third state were printed after Whistler's death.