Etchings Institutions search term: fine art society
Little Drawbridge, Amsterdam |  Hunterian Art Gallery (49902) | |
| Number: | 448 | |
| Date: | 1889 | |
| Medium: | etching and drypoint | |
| Size: | 178 x 128 mm | |
| Signed: | no | |
| Inscribed: | no | |
| Set/Publication: | no | |
| No. of States: | 2 | |
| Known impressions: | 13 | |
| Catalogues: | K.412; M.405; W.263 | |
| Impressions taken from this plate (13) | ||
TECHNIQUE
Drawn with slightly uncertain repeated outlines, and irregular patches of shading enhanced with cross-hatching for the reflections, plus very small strokes describing the details of figures, trees, and architecture. The only drypoint appears to be in the sky, particularly on either side of the tower and at the top of the drawbridge. Large granular patches of foul biting at upper and lower right appear in state two, and appear to have been deliberately left, as an alternative to using plate tone, for colour and texture.
PRINTING
The '1st Proof pulled' (according to Whistler) was printed in dark brown ink on ivory laid paper with an illegible watermark, probably from a book (
). Two impressions of the first state are recorded but only one has been located.
). Two impressions of the first state are recorded but only one has been located.Most impressions are of the second state. One impression on cream 'antique' (pre-1800) laid watermarked paper is dated '7. Mar. 5.' which probably means that it was one of at least seven Dutch etchings printed on 5 March 1890 ().
). Although most impressions of Little Drawbridge, Amsterdam are on laid paper, some impressions are on ivory Japanese (, ), cream Asian laid paper () and pale cream Japan (). Most are trimmed to the platemark and signed on a tab with the butterfly and 'imp.' to show that Whistler had printed them.
, ), cream Asian laid paper () and pale cream Japan (). Most are trimmed to the platemark and signed on a tab with the butterfly and 'imp.' to show that Whistler had printed them.In 1931 an issue of three impressions was printed by Nathaniel Sparks (1880-1956) from the copper plate (which had not then been cancelled) on the instructions of the artist's sister-in-law, Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958) (, ). 8 They were printed in dark brown ink on ivory laid paper, one sheet having a variant of the Arms of Amsterdam watermark (). An impression by Sparks is reproduced below. The printer's signature, 'Nathaniel Sparks / Imp.' was written on the verso, so that there could be no confusion between those printed by Whistler and Sparks.
, ). 8 They were printed in dark brown ink on ivory laid paper, one sheet having a variant of the Arms of Amsterdam watermark (). An impression by Sparks is reproduced below. The printer's signature, 'Nathaniel Sparks / Imp.' was written on the verso, so that there could be no confusion between those printed by Whistler and Sparks.8: Martin Hopkinson, 'Nathaniel Sparks's Printing of Whistler's Etchings', Print Quarterly, 1999, Vol. 16, No. 4, pp. 340, 348, 352.
