Accession Number
1954/1.333

Title
The Title to the French Set; original paper wrappers of the set, one of the 'Twelve Etchings from Nature,' or the 'French Set"

Artist(s)
James Abbott McNeill Whistler

Artist Nationality
American (North American)

Object Creation Date
1858

Medium & Support
etching and drypoint on on blue laid paper

Dimensions
13 7/8 in x 21 1/8 in (35.24 cm x 53.66 cm)

Credit Line
Bequest of Margaret Watson Parker

Subject matter
This plate, showing Whistler himself drawing as he would have done on his walking trip in 1858, serves as the title page to the Paris version of the "French Set". This image was printed on the blue paper wrapper that contained the twelve loose prints of the "French Set". This particular intact and complete set was something of a hybrid because it contained this image (printed on white paper) as a 13th image to the set--a configuration found in the edition of the "French Set" that was published in London.
This "French Set" was owned by Seymour Haden's brother, Charles Sydenham Haden.

Physical Description
A man in a broad-brimmed hat and a moustache sits sketching, his face largely in shadow. Around him are clustered groups of children absorbed in watching him drawing. A single figure of a boy, standing slightly apart at the right, gazes out at the viewer.

Primary Object Classification
Print

Collection Area
Western

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
audiences
children (people by age group)
hats
seated
self-portraits
sketches
sketching
standing