UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

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The Little Forge, Liverpool

Impression: Hunterian Art Gallery
Hunterian Art Gallery
(46779)
Number: 141
Date: 1875
Medium: drypoint
Size: 228 x 152 mm
Signed: butterfly at lower left (8); removed (9); butterfly at lower left (10-final)
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 16
Known impressions: 19
Catalogues: K.147; M.145; W.115
Impressions taken from this plate  (19)

STATE

Sixteen states are known before cancellation.

State 1

Etching: K1470101
There is no signature or inscription.
The composition is basically complete.
The impression reproduced above has additions in wash on the ceiling. Another impression, reproduced below, has considerable work in crayon.
Etching: K1470102

State 2

Etching: K1470202
A long, nearly vertical line at lower left has been removed; the head - particularly the ear - of the smith at the anvil is more clearly outlined; vertical lines extend the shading on the roof-beam to the right edge; more shading is added above the man standing in the background at right.

State 3

Etching: K1470302
Light diagonal lines shade the back of the man seated at the window, and darker lines are added on his head; new lines shade the space around him and short vertical lines are added to the shading on and below his bench; the shading at the left edge of the beam and the roof above appears to have been removed or worn down; new vertical shading is added around the man standing at the back; very light shading is added above the smith at the anvil.

State 4

Etching: K1470202
New light shading and cross-hatching is added above the smith at the anvil; new outlines redefine the smith's head and a small patch of shading is added at the back of his head.

State 5

Etching: K1470303
Heavy, irregular, vertical drypoint lines reinforce the shading under the window; several curving lines reinforce the suspenders, back and trousers of the man at the bench; the figures of the two men standing at right are redrawn; the shading between the smith's legs extends downwards and his heel is redrawn.

State 6

Etching: K1470402
New nearly vertical lines are added above the standing man at upper right, and his legs are roughly sketched in; the right leg of the smith at the anvil is extended but not completed.

State 7

Etching: K1470503
The body of the man bending over at extreme right is outlined; a few diagonal lines shade the left leg of the man standing to left of him; the lower part of the smith's legs and feet and objects piled under the anvil are roughly sketched in.
In the impression reproduced, retroussage is used to compensate for the worn drypoint.

State 8

Etching: K1470z01
Signed with a butterfly at lower left.
Vertical lines shade the space between the smith's arm and the anvil, and between the legs of the standing man in the background; new diagonal and vertical lines augment the shading under the work-bench at left, changing the shape of the shadow cast by the man's legs; several more short lines are added on and in front of the bending man at extreme right; patches of light shading are added on the upper arm of the smith and the back of the man directly behind him; the trees seen through the window have grown more branches.

State 9

Etching: K14705a3
The butterfly has been removed.

State 10

Etching: K1470603
Signed with a new, more elaborate, butterfly at lower left.
The vertical shading under the top of the workbench is extended to left; new vertical and diagonal shading is added between the seated man and the smith; the upper part of the furnace mouth is shaded with fine lines; shading is added between the legs of the standing man at right.

State 11

Etching: K1470702
A few lines are added on the tree at left; several new slanting drypoint lines are added on the torso of the standing man at right, and the shading between his legs and to right is darkened; vertical and slanting lines extend the shadows on the roof and beam at upper left; new outlines are added to the head of the smith and the bending man at far right.

State 12

Etching: K1470606
Several new slanting lines are added on the back of the seated man at left; a few short lines are added on the tree at left; a single slanting line is added on the smith's hammer.

State 13

Etching: K1470701
The trees at left have more branches and a smaller tree is added to right; long lines extend the roof beams at the top.

State 14

Etching: K1470602
The right foot of the seated man is added; new shading is added on the back of the man at the furnace and the standing man to right; the head of the smith is redrawn; several short vertical lines are added on the head of the seated man at left.

State 15

Etching: K1470z02
The head and shoulders of the smith are again redrawn, showing part of his profile; long slanting lines are added on the legs of the man standing at right.

State 16

Etching: K1470802
The head of the smith is again reworked, making it rounder, and the curves of his head and back are accentuated, shading is added below his head, and the profile is obscured; vertical and slanting shading is added below the smith's arm and hammer; a few lines are added to the flames of the furnace; the shading on the man at the furnace and the man standing to right is reinforced and extended, and new lines emphasize their shoulders; new close horizontal shading is added around the seated man at left.

State 16 (cancelled)

Etching: PS_K147_01
It was cancelled with a diagonal line across the lower right corner.

No impression from the cancelled plate is known. This is a digital image based on the copper plate. 6

6: A scan of the copper plate was flipped horizontally, converted to greyscale, and colour inverted, with enhanced contrast.