UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

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The Young Tree

Impression: Hunterian Art Gallery
Hunterian Art Gallery
(46909)
Number: 285
Date: 1887
Medium: etching
Size: 133 x 95 mm
Signed: butterfly at right
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 1
Known impressions: 5
Catalogues: K.296; M.291
Impressions taken from this plate  (5)

TECHNIQUE

The plate for The Young Tree was executed in pure etching. An impressionistic summary of the scene - children, a skinny tree and sunny gardens - is suggested with broken, repeated and jerky lines, and large blank areas punctuated by a few dots and dashes.

PRINTING

Only a few impressions are known. They are printed in very dark brown or black ink on laid paper. One, marked on the verso by Whistler with 'oo' (possibly as a mark of quality, or selection for a particular client), is a delicate impression with light, even tone on very thin Hunting horn watermarked laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K2960103). Another, also in dark brown ink, is on buff laid paper with 'PRO PATRIA' watermark, a sheet apparently taken from a book (Graphic with a link to impression #K2960102). They are trimmed to the platemark and signed on the tab with a butterfly and 'imp.'' to show that Whistler had printed them.