Etchings Institutions search term: british museum
Bibi Valentin |  Freer Gallery of Art (1892.8) | |
| Number: | 34 | |
| Date: | 1859 | |
| Medium: | etching and drypoint | |
| Size: | 152 x 228 mm | |
| Signed: | 'Whistler.' at lower left | |
| Inscribed: | '1859.' at lower left | |
| Set/Publication: | no | |
| No. of States: | 2 | |
| Known impressions: | 44 | |
| Catalogues: | K.50; M.50; T.26; W.28 | |
| Impressions taken from this plate (44) | ||
The copper plate was the same size as Soupe à trois sous
[64], but neither of these plates have been located. It is possible the plate was among those left in Paris, and retrieved by Whistler from Hardy-Alan in 1873. 5
The copper plate may have been sold at Whistler's bankruptcy sale. The plate appears to have been damaged at this time or shortly afterwards. It was not included in a set of impressions from cancelled plates as published by The Fine Art Society, London in 1879.
The copper plate may have been sold at Whistler's bankruptcy sale. The plate appears to have been damaged at this time or shortly afterwards. It was not included in a set of impressions from cancelled plates as published by The Fine Art Society, London in 1879.
5: Whistler to Hardy-Alan, 7 July 1873, GUW #10042.
It is possible that the plate, although slightly damaged, was printed in the period between the bankruptcy and 1883 - one such scratched impression predates 1883, when it was given to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (
). It may have been repaired and reprinted before being cancelled, possibly in the late 1890s.
). It may have been repaired and reprinted before being cancelled, possibly in the late 1890s. A single impression from the cancelled plate was bound in a unique album that is now in Yale University Art Gallery (). In addition to the cancelled set, it contains several etchings that may also have been printed in the 1890s in America, and cancelled in a similar way with ruled lines.
). In addition to the cancelled set, it contains several etchings that may also have been printed in the 1890s in America, and cancelled in a similar way with ruled lines.