UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

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Millbank

Impression: Freer Gallery of Art
Freer Gallery of Art
(1898.314)
Number: 78
Date: 1861
Medium: etching and drypoint
Size: 102 x 127 mm
Signed: 'James Whistler' (in inscription) (1-4); removed (5)
Inscribed: '1861' at lower left; 'The Works of James Whistler: Etchings and Dry Points, are on View at E. Thomas' .. Publisher / 39. Old Bond Street' at lower right (1-2); 'London.' added (4); erased (5)
Set/Publication: 'Thames Set', 1871
No. of States: 5
Known impressions: 67
Catalogues: K.71; M.71; T.44; W.67
Impressions taken from this plate  (67)

TECHNIQUE

It was drawn with confident sweeping lines and deeply etched, with drypoint added in the second state.

PRINTING

Most impressions are printed in black ink, on various papers. Early impressions are, for instance, a first state on buff 'antique' (pre-1800) laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K0710101); and second states on dark cream laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K0710204) and off-white wove (Graphic with a link to impression #K0710205). These are followed by a variety of papers including cream 'antique' laid (Graphic with a link to impression #K0710303); tan (Graphic with a link to impression #K0710z04) and buff (Graphic with a link to impression #K0710311) laid; and some Asian papers - ivory Japan tissue (Graphic with a link to impression #K0710302, Graphic with a link to impression #K0710313) and light-weight cream Japanese paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K0710304).
The published edition of the 'Thames Set' (in the fifth state) was mainly printed in black ink on laid papers, a high proportion being on ivory/cream paper with the Beehive watermark (Graphic with a link to impression #K0710502) or 'DE ERVEN DE BLAUW' or 'DEDB' (Graphic with a link to impression #K0710507, Graphic with a link to impression #K0710519, Graphic with a link to impression #K0710524, Graphic with a link to impression #K0710526, Graphic with a link to impression #K0710527, Graphic with a link to impression #K0710528, Graphic with a link to impression #K0710530). Other laid papers include ivory (Graphic with a link to impression #K0710514); as well as cream with a Strasbourg Lily watermark, from a blue-edged ledger (Graphic with a link to impression #K0710522); ivory with watermark 'LIST' (Graphic with a link to impression #K0710522); stiff cream or ivory (Graphic with a link to impression #K0710503, Graphic with a link to impression #K0710523); 'modern' cream (Graphic with a link to impression #K0710521); 'modern' cream paper with an elaborate watermark, 'M' and 'C' flanking a lion with a shield, dated 'MDCCCXXXVII' (1837, Graphic with a link to impression #K0710z03); pale buff watermarked paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K0710505); and, more unusually, blue/grey laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K0710510). Some impressions are on Asian papers including cream Japanese (Graphic with a link to impression #K0710508, Graphic with a link to impression #K0710525) and ivory Asian laid (Graphic with a link to impression #K0710509). Cancelled impressions are on ivory 'modern' laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K0710601, Graphic with a link to impression #K0710602).