James Abbott McNeill Whistler. 1834-1903.
Whistler with the White Lock. 1879. Etching. Kennedy 172, Glasgow 162.i/i. 4.625 x 3.125 (sheet 8.5 x 6.5). A fine lifetime impression with plate tone printed on 'S C' countermarked cream laid paper, with wide margins. Unsigned as issued. Inscribed in pencil with what is likely an early dealer (possibly Kennedy Galleries, New York, NY) inventory code, verso: a53364. Overall good, original, untreated appearance. With wide (possibly full) margins. Very pale light-staining showing in the margins just outside the platemark. Surface soiling in the upper portion of the left margin. A soft diagonal handling mark in the lower right margin corner. Time staining in places along the extreme vertical margin edges where the old frame and backing board seem to have left those outermost edges of the paper more exposed. The sheet is hinged to the back mat from the verso of the upper margin corners with small brown paper hinges. $4,500.
Edition Context: The First Printing (1879): Published by the artist and The Fine Art Society in London in 1878 as part of the Cancelled Plates set (an ironic title, because the plates in this portfolio were actually not canceled yet—they were just unfinished). This impression comes from that initial group of roughly 18 printed.Published in the 'Cancelled Set' in 1878. This is not the only plate published in the 'Cancelled Set' that was not in fact cancelled.
The Second Printing (1889): After Whistler sold the plate, H. Wunderlich & Co. in New York printed a second edition of 16 impressionsin 1889, and those later impressions were inked more heavily and appeared stronger than this image, which is from the first printing.
The Hunterian Museum at the University of Glasgow notes: "This is one of several self-portraits, including 'Portrait of Whistler' 005, 'Whistler with a hat' 044 and 'Head of Whistler' 318. The white lock is conspicuous in photographs such as those reproduced here. It was a genetic trait, Waardenburg syndrome, shared with his sister Deborah Delano Haden (1825-1908)..."
Please click on the link to visit the page on the Glasgow website: Whistler with the White Lock
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