UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

The huge patch of foul biting between the awnings dominates the appearance of the first state of this etching; it seems very strange that Whistler went to the bother of printing several impressions like this. The disfiguring spots were then burnished out.

The scene was drawn with a few slightly uneven outlines and long stretches of zigzag shading above and below the awning and elsewhere, adding a few dark accents to the otherwise thin and minimal outlines.

Impressions of the first state were printed in black ink on ivory laid paper (), one with a partial watermark of a cross and orb (). They are trimmed to the platermark and signed on a tab with Whistler's butterfly and 'imp.' to show that he had printed them, the butterfly dating from 1886 or 1887. Frederick Wedmore (1844-1921) wrote, 'I have a very early proof. I hear the plate has since been worked on.' 6

Whistler recorded printing five impressions of 'Furniture Shop' on 16 May 1887 and two on 6 June. 7 In 1889 he still had seven impressions in stock. 8 indeed, most of the known impressions were in Whistler's studio at his death (, , , , and ).

Most impressions of the second state are in black ink on laid paper, including 'antique' (pre-1800) paper (, ), a sheet with the watermark of a crown over 'GR' () and cream laid paper (). Most are trimmed to the platermark and signed on a tab with Whistler's butterfly and 'imp.' but one unsold impression that was kept by the artist has no tab; it was probably cut off by mistake, and the signature and 'imp.' is on the verso ().