The Bonnet-Shop |  Freer Gallery of Art (1891.5) | |
| Number: | 254 | |
| Date: | 1886/1888 | |
| Medium: | etching and drypoint | |
| Size: | 99 x 67 mm | |
| Signed: | butterfly at lower left | |
| Inscribed: | no | |
| Set/Publication: | no | |
| No. of States: | 1 | |
| Known impressions: | 1 | |
| Catalogues: | K.253; M.249 | |
| Impressions taken from this plate (1) | ||
TECHNIQUE
The majority of the work on this plate is etching, and there are many specks and spots of foul biting visible on the shopfront and the pavement just below it. Several series of parallel diagonal drypoint lines enhance the shading on and behind the skirt of the woman standing in the doorway.
PRINTING
On 18 July 1889 Whistler noted that he had one impression of 'Bonnet Shop' in stock. 6 The first, and indeed the only known proof, was printed in black ink on ivory laid paper (). It was trimmed to the platemarkl and signed on the tab wityh a butterfly and 'imp.' to show that Whistler had printed it. The cancelled impression has not been located, but appears to be in black ink, and not trimmed ().
6: GUW #13235.