The Guitar Player

Date: 1874-75
Medium: Drypoint in brown ink on off-white laid paper
Dimensions: Plate: 276 x 177 mm. 10 7/8 x 7 in. Sheet: 413 x 303 mm. 16 1/4 x 11 7/8 in.   
Reference: Kennedy 140, fifth state of five; Glasgow 124, sixth or seventh state of seven
Signature: Signed in pencil with the butterfly bottom left
Annotations: Whistler has made his characteristic letter and dot marks in the extreme lower left corner of the margin, indicating a special or early impression, as mentioned in the entry for the print under the “Printing” tab in Glasgow Online. Whistler also appears to have titled the print in pencil on the bottom edge left of center, “Ridley – Guitar Player”
Provenance:  H.H. Benedict (1844-1935, New York), his initials in pencil lower right extreme corner of margin (covered by mount); John P. Elton (1865-1948), Waterbury, CT; By descent to his heirs, U.S.A
Impression: Very fine, with burr and considerable wiped tonal effects, inky plate edges
Condition: Excellent, laid down on old board, wide margins