Etching and drypoint printed in brownish black on antique, thin cream laid paper, 1879. 201x300 mm; 8x11 7/8 inches. MacDonald's seventh state (of 7). Signed with the butterfly and inscribed "imp" in pencil, on the tab lower left. A very good, richly-inked impression with warm plate tone.
During his lifetime, Whistler (1834-1903) was highly praised for his etchings and was considered to rival Rembrandt van Rijn in the mastery of the medium. His technique was meticulous and deliberate; he would diligently rework plates until he was completely satisfied with an impression. When printing he took great care in applying ink to the plate and carefully selected various papers for the quality in which they held the ink. Of the 490 etchings Whistler produced in his career, Old Putney Bridge represents one of his longest-running endeavors, with some 7 states spanning nearly a decade of work (1879-1889). Kennedy 178; Glasgow 185.
