UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

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Marbles

Impression: National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
(1943.3.8588)
Number: 270
Date: 1886/1887
Medium: etching and drypoint
Size: 133 x 98 mm
Signed: butterfly at upper right
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 3
Known impressions: 5
Catalogues: K.284; M.280
Impressions taken from this plate  (5)

TECHNIQUE

It was drawn with a combination of etched and drypoint lines. Ruth Fine commented on Whistler's technique:
'Whistler had by now perfected a shorthand language that allowed him to portray each figure convincingly through a few swift gestural marks. Marbles was essentially completed in the first state, details of shadows being the only later additions.' 7

7: Los Angeles 1984 (cat. no. 67).

PRINTING

In July 1889 Whistler recorded that he had two impressions in stock. 8 Two impressions of the first state were printed in a warm black ink on ivory laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K2840102, Graphic with a link to impression #K2840103) and one on cream laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K2840202). No impression of the second state has been located (Graphic with a link to impression #K2840201). One impression of the third state is on laid paper with a Pro Patria watermark (Graphic with a link to impression #K2840302) and another on cream laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K2840303). All are trimmed to the platemark and signed on the tab with a butterfly and 'imp.' to show that Whistler had printed them.

8: List, 18 July 1889, GUW #13235.