UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

Sketches of a Girl and a Woman

Impression: Freer Gallery of Art
Freer Gallery of Art
(1903.255)
Number: 153
Date: 1875/1876
Medium: drypoint
Size: 178 x 133 mm
Signed: no
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 1
Known impressions: 2
Catalogues: K.122; M.128; W.108
Impressions taken from this plate  (2)

TECHNIQUE

In the one known impression of this drypoint, the fresh burr of the fine drypoint lines, fully inked, suggested the lustre of the child's hair (Graphic with a link to impression #K1220102). Whistler noted on this impression that it was the '1st Proof - touched / in Water Color -' . Marks of burnishing at upper right show where something - possibly a book - have been removed. It was touched up with a fine brush in wash, possibly to indicate how to develop the portrait, but this was not carried out.

PRINTING

The sole known impression is printed in black ink on cream laid paper with the watermark of the Arms of Amsterdam (Graphic with a link to impression #K1220102). The sheet was taken from a book and has an old inscription in pen on the verso. The cancelled impression was printed on cream wove paper, likewise in black ink (Graphic with a link to impression #K1220201).