UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

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Fumette's Bent Head

Impression: Freer Gallery of Art
Freer Gallery of Art
(1898.287)
Number: 58
Date: 1859
Medium: drypoint
Size: 229 x 154 mm
Signed: 'Whistler.' at lower left (2)
Inscribed: '1859.' at lower left (2)
Set/Publication: 'Cancelled Plates', 1879
No. of States: 2
Known impressions: 20
Catalogues: K.57; M.57; T.70; W.51
Impressions taken from this plate  (20)

TECHNIQUE

Fumette's Bent Head is one of a small group of drypoints - Whistler's first drypoints - done in 1859. Most are portraits, namely Whistler with a hat [44], Z. Astruc, Editor of 'L'Artiste' [36], Finette [61], C. L. Drouet, Sculptor [35], and Arthur Haden [66].

PRINTING

It is very rare, with only four or five impressions before cancellation. In addition there may have been a print-run of twenty impressions from the cancelled plate.
Early proofs were printed in black ink on Japan paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K0570102, Graphic with a link to impression #K0570103, Graphic with a link to impression #K0570104).
Cancelled impressions were also printed in black ink, including one on cream wove paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K0570306); several on cream 'modern' (post-1800) laid paper watermarked with a horned crown (Graphic with a link to impression #K0570301, Graphic with a link to impression #K0570304, Graphic with a link to impression #K0570305); and others on ivory laid paper (i.e. Graphic with a link to impression #K0570315), including one on medium-weight ivory laid paper with Strasbourg Lily watermark (Graphic with a link to impression #K0570302).