The Rag Shop, Milman's Row |  Art Institute of Chicago (1938.1911) | |
| Number: | 290 | |
| Date: | 1887 | |
| Medium: | etching and drypoint | |
| Size: | 96 x 164 mm | |
| Signed: | butterfly at upper centre | |
| Inscribed: | no | |
| Set/Publication: | no | |
| No. of States: | 3 | |
| Known impressions: | 9 | |
| Catalogues: | K.258; M.254 | |
| Impressions taken from this plate (9) | ||
TECHNIQUE
Whistler began work on this plate in etching and then added touches of drypoint shading to complete the image.
PRINTING
Most impressions, judging from the butterfly signatures added in pencil, date from about 1887. An impression of the first state in black ink on ivory laid paper was acquired by Samuel Putnam Avery (1822-1904) (). Second states were printed in black ink on ivory laid paper () and dark brown ink on off-white () and buff laid paper (), the latter with a Pro Patria watermark. The final state was also in both dark brown ink on dark ivory () or buff () laid paper, and in black ink on ivory laid (, ), the latter with an Arms of Amsterdam watermark. All are trimmed to the platemark and signed on the tab with a butterfly and 'imp.' to show that Whistler had printed them.