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The Church - Brussels (Adoration)

Impression: Hunterian Art Gallery
Hunterian Art Gallery
(46633)
Number: 340
Date: 1887
Medium: etching and drypoint
Size: 213 x 124 mm
Signed: butterfly at upper left
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 4
Known impressions: 9
Catalogues: K.356; M.352; W.249
Impressions taken from this plate  (9)

TECHNIQUE

The etched outlines were elaborated with both etched and drypoint shading through all four states. The details of chairs and figures and architecture were gradually subordinated to the rich, soft, shadows of the chapels under the balcony. Foul biting also blurred the figures and contributed to the soft, hazy atmosphere of the interior.

PRINTING

The first state of The Church – Brussels (Adoration) was printed in dark brown ink on ivory laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K3560002). Most impressions are of the second state, printed in black ink on cream laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K3560002), and several on laid paper with watermarks including the Strasbourg Lily over 'WR' (Graphic with a link to impression #K3560105) and Pro Patria (Graphic with a link to impression #K3560106); with others in dark brown ink on paper with the watermark of a Hunting Horn in a shield (Graphic with a link to impression #K3560104, Graphic with a link to impression #K3560103). A proof of the third state was printed in black ink on cream Japanese paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K3560202).
One, an impression of the final state, reproduced below, is in black ink on Asian laid paper, has additional work in pen and ink, indicating additions that were never made to the plate (Graphic with a link to impression #K3560302).
Impression: K3560302
All are trimmed to the platemark and signed on the tab with a butterfly and 'imp.' to show that Whistler printed them.