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The Courtyard, Brussels

Impression: Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago
(1938.1870)
Number: 345
Date: 1887
Medium: etching
Size: 215 x 126 mm
Signed: butterfly at right
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 1
Known impressions: 7
Catalogues: K.355; M.353; W.250
Impressions taken from this plate  (7)

TECHNIQUE

The subject was drawn consistently with short strokes of the etching needle - straight, crooked, jagged and curved lines - as well as dots and dashes. There are also small patches and flecks of foul biting. Only in the doors and windows is there fine, close shading. There is no drypoint.

PRINTING

One impression of The Courtyard, Brussels was printed in black ink on very thin off-white Japanese laid paper (), but most are on western laid paper, one on a cream paper (), several having a Pro Patria watermark (, , ) and one on cream with an Arms of Amsterdam watermark (). All were printed with light, smooth plate tone. All were trimmed to the platemark leaving a tab for the butterfly signature and 'imp.' to show that Whistler had printed them.