Long Lagoon | ||
Number: | 215 | |
Date: | 1879/1880 | |
Medium: | etching and drypoint | |
Size: | 154 x 228 mm | |
Signed: | butterfly at lower left (2) | |
Inscribed: | no | |
Set/Publication: | 'Second Venice Set', 1886 | |
No. of States: | 2 | |
Known impressions: | 40 | |
Catalogues: | K.203; M.200; W.169 | |
Impressions taken from this plate (40) |
TECHNIQUE
Long Lagoon is an etching, and only the butterfly signature - added in the second state - is in drypoint.
PRINTING
Two impressions appear to be numbered, the '1st. Proof.' printed in black ink on laid paper - possibly Dutch - (
) and 'No.4' printed in dark brown ink, on 'antique' (pre-1800) laid paper with the watermark of a posthorn on a shield over 'WR' (
). Other impressions of the first state that can definitely be dated to 1880 or 1881 were printed in black ink on ivory laid paper (
) and in dark brown ink on ivory laid paper (
). These impressions pre-date the 'Second Venice Set'.




Long Lagoon was published by Messrs Dowdeswell and Thibaudeau with the Twenty-six Etchings ( 'Second Venice Set') in 1886. One impression was printed for Dowdeswell's by Émile Frédéric Salmon (1840-1913) in black ink on light buff fine light-weight paper (now laid down on card) (
). However, Whistler then decided to print the edition himself. A record of impressions for the edition lists nine delivered on 22 July, sixteen on 29 September, and seventeen on 2 October 1886, a total of 42. 7

7: Whistler to W. Dowdeswell, GUW #08717.
Other first state impressions, most dating from the publication of the 'Second Venice Set' in 1886, were printed in black (
,
) or brown (
) ink on 'antique' laid paper with 'WW' countermark. Several are printed in black ink, on ivory laid with 'RK' countermark (
) or with a Hunting horn and shield watermark (
); on light-weight cream laid with the watermark of a shield over 'W' (
); and on ivory Asian laid (
). Several - of similar date - were printed in dark brown ink on ivory laid paper with Strasbourg Lily / 'LVG' watermark (
); cream (
) and buff laid paper (
,
).











The second state, signed with the butterfly, was printed immediately after these, in 1886 - possibly at the end of September, and certainly by 2 October 1886. They are on a variety of papers, mostly in slightly lighter coloured ink. One is in light brown ink on cream laid paper with 'Pro Patria' watermark (
); others on cream 'modern' laid (
); on Japan (
); light-weight ivory laid (
); ivory Asian laid (
); and in darker brown ink on ivory laid paper taken from a book, with binding holes at the top (
).






The copper plate was cancelled in January 1887. 8 Cancelled impressions are in black ink on ivory laid paper (
,
); and brown ink on ivory light-weight laid paper, possibly faux-Asian (
).



8: Whistler to Messrs Dowdeswell, 17 January 1887, GUW #13022.