UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

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Furniture Shop

Impression: Hunterian Art Gallery
Hunterian Art Gallery
(54896)
Number: 278
Date: 1887
Medium: etching
Size: 97 x 165 mm
Signed: butterfly above centre
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 2
Known impressions: 12
Catalogues: K.266; M.262; W.216
Impressions taken from this plate  (12)

TECHNIQUE

The huge patch of foul biting between the awnings dominates the appearance of the first state of this etching; it seems very strange that Whistler went to the bother of printing several impressions like this. The disfiguring spots were then burnished out.
The scene was drawn with a few slightly uneven outlines and long stretches of zigzag shading above and below the awning and elsewhere, adding a few dark accents to the otherwise thin and minimal outlines.

PRINTING

Impressions of the first state were printed in black ink on ivory laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K2660107), one with a partial watermark of a cross and orb (Graphic with a link to impression #K2660102). They are trimmed to the platermark and signed on a tab with Whistler's butterfly and 'imp.' to show that he had printed them, the butterfly dating from 1886 or 1887. Frederick Wedmore (1844-1921) wrote, 'I have a very early proof. I hear the plate has since been worked on.' 6

6: Wedmore 1899 (cat. no. 216).

Whistler recorded printing five impressions of 'Furniture Shop' on 16 May 1887 and two on 6 June. 7 In 1889 he still had seven impressions in stock. 8 indeed, most of the known impressions were in Whistler's studio at his death (Graphic with a link to impression #K2660112, Graphic with a link to impression #K2660111, Graphic with a link to impression #K2660110, Graphic with a link to impression #K2660109, Graphic with a link to impression #K2660108 and Graphic with a link to impression #K2660103).

Most impressions of the second state are in black ink on laid paper, including 'antique' (pre-1800) paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K2660z01, Graphic with a link to impression #K2660104), a sheet with the watermark of a crown over 'GR' (Graphic with a link to impression #K2660108) and cream laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K2660103). Most are trimmed to the platermark and signed on a tab with Whistler's butterfly and 'imp.' but one unsold impression that was kept by the artist has no tab; it was probably cut off by mistake, and the signature and 'imp.' is on the verso (Graphic with a link to impression #K2660110).

7: List, 8 February- 29 September 1887, GUW #12716.

8: 18 July 1889, GUW #13235.