The Kitchen

James Abbott McNeill Whistler

"The Kitchen", was first published in 1858 in The French Set, G. 16; Kennedy 24; M.24; T.13; W.19: etching in dark brown/black ink and plate tone on antique ivory laid paper watermarked with Strasbourg lily; signed "Whistler" in plate, lower right; pencil signed with butterfly on tab and annotated "imp," lower left. Inscribed 'Imp. Delatre. Rue St. [superscript 't'] Jacques. 171' in the plate, lower right, barely visible. 67 known impressions from 3 states; 9 x 6-3/16" platemark and sheet. State 3 of 3. Cancelled plate in Toledo Museum of Art.

No impression of the first state has been located: most are in the second state, of which some three dozen have been identified. It was printed by Auguste Delâtre (1822-1907) for the 'French Set' in 1858. Typical impressions of the etching in its second state printed by Delâtre are in dark brown ink on off-white chine appliqué and in black ink on ivory chine. Some however are in dark brown ink on ivory laid paper. The area around the window was usually wiped cleaner than the rest, while the shadows gain extra depth from slightly darker tone on the surface.

Glasgow notes: "According to Kennedy, 'Fifty impressions of this [3rd] state were printed by Whistler, who then trimmed off the margins, except the part signed in pencil with the butterfly and "imp." The plate was then cancelled. Published by The Fine Art Society, in 1885.' Nothing like the number of impressions indicated by Kennedy have been located; presumably there are a lot hidden in dark corners.

A typical example of the Fine Art Society edition was printed in dark brown ink with surface tone wiped to emphasize the light area near the window; it shows distinct signs of wear around the figure. It is trimmed to the platemark and signed with a butterfly 'imp' on the tab, which can be dated to 1885."