UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

This was drawn originally in etching, with some drypoint modifications in the second and third states, but the drypoint was wearing down by the final state. The scene is carefully drawn, with neat horizontal shading on the huts by the beach, but much freer, long lines on the netting in the foreground.

One impression was heavily touched with black ink wash, shading the fishermen's huts by the beach, the two hulls and part of the nets at right and the two roofs in the right background (). It is not absolutely sure that this was done by Whistler although it could have been a suggestion for further work.

No impression of the first state has not been located; most known impressions are of the second state. A few were printed in dark brown ink, one on ivory laid paper (); another on ivory (now discoloured to buff) laid paper with the watermark 'S WISE & CO / 1823' ().

Most were printed in black ink on a variety of papers including a touched proof on 'antique' (pre-1800) laid paper with a countermark, possibly 'P', taken from a book, with sewing holes still visible (). Other impressions are on ivory laid paper with the Arms of Amsterdam watermark () and dark cream 'antique' laid (). A couple are in black ink on Asian papers - an ivory 'laid' paper () and very thin off-white tissue ().

Most impressions have broad margins but at least two were trimmed at a later date and signed on the tab with Whistler's butterfly and 'imp.' to show that he had printed them; however, these were probably trimmed and signed when they were sold in the late 1880s (). A final state, judging by the etched butterfly signature, was printed about 1885, but this impression has not been located ().