Etchings Institutions search term: metropolitan museum
Axenfeld |  Freer Gallery of Art (1898.304) | |
| Number: | 68 | |
| Date: | 1860 | |
| Medium: | drypoint | |
| Size: | 230 x 153 mm | |
| Signed: | 'Whistler.' at lower left (2-final) | |
| Inscribed: | '1860.' at lower left (2-final) | |
| Set/Publication: | 'Cancelled Plates', 1879 | |
| No. of States: | 6 | |
| Known impressions: | 31 | |
| Catalogues: | K.64; M.64; T.52; W.61 | |
| Impressions taken from this plate (31) | ||
STATE
Six states are known before cancellation.
State 1
There is no signature or inscription.
There is no shading in the background.
State 2
Signed and dated 'Whistler. 1860.' ('6' in reverse) at lower left.
The background is partly drawn in, with a curtain roughly outlined and shading added to left of the man's head and to right of his neck; the face is fully modelled and shaded; his shoulders have been lowered and narrowed, with the changes disguised by heavy shading either side of the neck and shoulders.
State 3
Light vertical shading fills the space behind the man's head at upper right.
State 4
The figure is completed, including the right hand, holding a cigarette; the jacket and trousers are defined and shaded further; there are additional patches of vertical shading in the background, each side of the head and shoulders, and reaching to the plate edge at upper right.
State 5
The shading in the background at right is augmented and extended behind the man's back with more vertical lines; the back of the jacket is darkened.
State 6
More shading is added in an area behind the man's head at upper right.
The drypoint shading varies according to the wear and inking of the plate.
State 6 (cancelled)
Cancelled with numerous crossed diagonal lines across the figure.