UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

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The Busby

Impression: Hunterian Art Gallery
Hunterian Art Gallery
(46653)
Number: 368
Date: 1887
Medium: drypoint
Size: 217 x 128 mm
Signed: butterfly at right
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 2
Known impressions: 1
Catalogues: K.437; M.437
Impressions taken from this plate  (1)

TECHNIQUE

The Busby is entirely drawn in drypoint, with a few long diagonal lines creating the figures, and areas of shorter diagonal shading creating the furry effect on the hat.

PRINTING

The sole impression of the first state (Graphic with a link to impression #K4370102) is printed in dark brown ink on ivory laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K4370102). It was richly inked, with a surface tone of ink, and the burr makes the busby look very furry. The plate must have been wiped quickly and the inking is uneven. Furthermore, either the plate was not pressed into the paper enough, or the paper had not been sufficiently damped, so that the ink has not fully covered the paper, and has left bare some areas of the laid lines.
No impression of the second state has been located. It is known only from the copper plate, which has since been cancelled. The copper plate does appear to have traces of ink so that it is possible there were impressions of the final state, which may have been destroyed or lost.