Café Luxembourg |  Freer Gallery of Art (1902.119) | |
| Number: | 436 | |
| Date: | 1888/1893 | |
| Medium: | etching | |
| Size: | 98 x 135 mm | |
| Signed: | butterfly at upper left | |
| Inscribed: | no | |
| Set/Publication: | no | |
| No. of States: | 1 | |
| Known impressions: | 1 | |
| Catalogues: | K.434; M.425 | |
| Impressions taken from this plate (1) | ||
Café Luxembourg probably dates from 1888. The butterfly signature, with a dark, shaded trefoil behind its wings, indicates that it was drawn after Whistler's marriage to Beatrice Whistler (1857-1896). The subject, being French, suggests it was done either on their honeymoon in 1888 or when they settled in Paris in the early 1890s.
The size of the copper plate - similar to Resting by the Stove [372], J.H. Woods' Fruit Shop, Chelsea [327],
Bird Shop - Seven Dials [384],
Château de Bridoré [409],
Place Daumont, Tours [390],
The Hangman's House, Tours [393] and Petite Rue au Beurre, Brussels [341] - would suggest a date between 1887 and 1889.
However, the sole impression of Café Luxembourg is recorded as being sold in 1902 (
) and it is possible that it dates from later.
) and it is possible that it dates from later.