Mme Pelletier, Blanchisserie, Paris |  Freer Gallery of Art (1904.16) | |
| Number: | 481 | |
| Date: | 1897/1898 | |
| Medium: | etching and drypoint | |
| Size: | 182 x 151 mm | |
| Signed: | butterfly at right | |
| Inscribed: | no | |
| Set/Publication: | no | |
| No. of States: | 1 | |
| Known impressions: | 1 | |
| Catalogues: | K.438; M.438 | |
| Impressions taken from this plate (1) | ||
Mme Pelletier, Blanchisserie, Paris dates from 1897/1898.
The form of the butterfly, which is shaded to indicate a butterfly in mourning, suggests this was etched after the death of Beatrice Whistler (1857-1896). A similar butterfly is seen on Carpet Menders, Paris 480.
On 11 November 1897 Edward Guthrie Kennedy (1849-1932) wrote to Whistler: 'It is time to finish the etchings of Paris now, so as to make some noise. Tell me what is going on, "busy" is somewhat vague.' 1
1: GUW #07292.
The copper plate, made by C. Servant in Paris, is similar to a small group of etching plates, namely
Confections pour Dames 475,
Café Corazza, Paris 484,
Antony's Print Shop, Rue de Seine 477,
Polichinelle, Jardin du Luxembourg 467,
Boulevard Poissonière, Paris 483, The Band, Luxembourg Gardens 466, Under the Statue, Luxembourg Gardens 464 (all of which date from the mid-to late 1890s), and Flaming Forge 490 and
Sleeping Child, Ajaccio 488 (both of which date from 1901).