The Doorway
Print
ca. 1879 (made)
ca. 1879 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
In 1879 Whistler was commissioned by the Fine Art Society to make a set of etchings of Venice. This is a printmaking technique in which acid is used to bite lines in a metal plate. These lines are next filled with ink, which is then printed on to paper.
Whistler was one of the first artists to put his pencilled signature to a print. This practice grew up during the second half of the 19th century in order to identify works printed from surfaces made by the artist him- or herself, as opposed to reproductions of works originally created in other media.
Whistler was one of the first artists to put his pencilled signature to a print. This practice grew up during the second half of the 19th century in order to identify works printed from surfaces made by the artist him- or herself, as opposed to reproductions of works originally created in other media.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Titles |
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| Materials and techniques | Etching and drypoint on paper |
| Brief description | Etching and drypoint by James McNeill Whistler, 'The Doorway', 1879. From 'Venice, a Series of Twelve Etchings', published by the Fine Art Society, London, 1880. |
| Physical description | Etching and drypoint by James McNeill Whistler, 'The Doorway', 1879. From 'Venice, a Series of Twelve Etchings', published by the Fine Art Society, London, 1880. Also known as 'The First Venice Set'. View of a wide doorway, ornately decorated, with a view into a dark interior and a young woman standing on the steps leading to the water's edge. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Print from 'Venice, a series of Twelve Etchings', published by the Fine Art Society, London, 1880. Also known as ‘The First Venice Set’. W.154; K.188, 7th state. |
| Production | The original drawing was probably made in Venice. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Place depicted | |
| Summary | In 1879 Whistler was commissioned by the Fine Art Society to make a set of etchings of Venice. This is a printmaking technique in which acid is used to bite lines in a metal plate. These lines are next filled with ink, which is then printed on to paper. Whistler was one of the first artists to put his pencilled signature to a print. This practice grew up during the second half of the 19th century in order to identify works printed from surfaces made by the artist him- or herself, as opposed to reproductions of works originally created in other media. |
| Associated objects | |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.168-1965 |
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| Record created | May 25, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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