Etchings Institutions search term: xx
St James's Place, Houndsditch |  Hunterian Art Gallery (46915) | |
| Number: | 255 | |
| Date: | 1886 | |
| Medium: | etching and drypoint | |
| Size: | 82 x 178 mm | |
| Signed: | butterfly at upper right | |
| Inscribed: | no | |
| Set/Publication: | no | |
| No. of States: | 2 | |
| Known impressions: | 8 | |
| Catalogues: | K.290; M.284; W.232 | |
| Impressions taken from this plate (8) | ||
TECHNIQUE
The scene was sketched quickly, with a lot of areas left blank, but the shading of the windows was done with irregular patches and sweeps of parallel shading and zigzag shading, at various angles, producing a vivid effect of light and shade, slightly softened by drypoint shading. The figures were summarised with crooked, curved and angular broken lines, creating an effect of movement without being completed in detail. Drypoint augments the etched lines in the second state.
PRINTING
The first proof was printed in black ink on cream 'modern' (post-1800) laid paper, with very light tone (
) and another first state was on cream laid paper (). Several later impressions were printed in dark brown ink on cream (, ) or ivory (, ) laid paper, one with a crowned 'GR' countermark (). All are trimmed to the platemark and signed on a tab with Whistler's butterfly and 'imp.' to show that the artist had printed them.
) and another first state was on cream laid paper (). Several later impressions were printed in dark brown ink on cream (, ) or ivory (, ) laid paper, one with a crowned 'GR' countermark (). All are trimmed to the platemark and signed on a tab with Whistler's butterfly and 'imp.' to show that the artist had printed them.