The Mill | ||
Number: | 457 | |
Date: | 1889 | |
Medium: | etching and drypoint | |
Size: | 161 x 241 mm | |
Signed: | butterfly at lower left | |
Inscribed: | no | |
Set/Publication: | no | |
No. of States: | 6 | |
Known impressions: | 13 | |
Catalogues: | K.413; M.415 | |
Impressions taken from this plate (13) |
KEYWORD
canal, interior, landscape, paint mill, windmill, woman, worker.
TITLE
Variations on the title are as follows:
'The Mill' (1890, Whistler). 1
'Mill The Amsterdam' (1890/1891, Whistler). 2
'Interior of Mill' (1890/1892, Beatrice Whistler (1857-1896)). 3
'The Mill' (1902, Edward Guthrie Kennedy (1849-1932)). 4
'The Mill, Amsterdam' (1903/1935, possibly Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958)). 5
'The Mill' is the approved title, based on Whistler's original title. The Mill was probably not actually in Amsterdam, so the city name should not be included in the title.
'The Mill' (1890, Whistler). 1
'Mill The Amsterdam' (1890/1891, Whistler). 2
'Interior of Mill' (1890/1892, Beatrice Whistler (1857-1896)). 3
'The Mill' (1902, Edward Guthrie Kennedy (1849-1932)). 4
'The Mill, Amsterdam' (1903/1935, possibly Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958)). 5
'The Mill' is the approved title, based on Whistler's original title. The Mill was probably not actually in Amsterdam, so the city name should not be included in the title.
1: Whistler to C. L. Freer, 4 March 1890, GUW #13065.
2: List, [1890/1891], GUW #13236.
3: List, [1890/1892], GUW #12715.
4: Kennedy 1902[more] (cat. no. 358).
5: Envelope containing copper plate, University of Glasgow.
DESCRIPTION
The interior of a wooden windmill, with massive timber pillars and braces supporting the beams of the ceiling and upper floor. At the back, at left, is a wide double doorway opening onto a short jetty over a canal. Beyond are flat meadows, a cow, and in the distance, three windmills. Brushes, clogs, buckets and jars are piled by the door, and clothes hang on the wall at left. To right of the door, near a window, is a seated figure, possibly a woman, in profile to right. In the foreground to right of centre full sacks are piled up, and behind and to right of these, a woman is standing with a sack, possibly filling or tying the top. To right the machinery of the mill is visible, and at upper right, the tower, with small windows in the sloping sides.
SITE
A paint mill, probably De Duinjager, in the Zaanstreek, the area round Zaandam, Netherlands. 6
6: Heijbroek 1997[more], pp. 71, 75.
DISCUSSION
This is one of several work-place interiors etched by Whistler, which include W. Jones, Lime-Burner, Thames Street 055, The Forge 086, The Little Forge, Liverpool 141, Wheelwright 240 and The Smithy 239.