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James McNeill Whistler

Two Sketches

1878/79
Lithographic crayon and brush and tusche on coarse-grained transfer paper
26.2 × 17.9 cm (10.3 × 7 in)

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In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

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FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

In contrast to lithographs made directly on lithographic stones, images for transfer are drawn in lithographic crayon on paper that is specifically coated to allow the drawings to be transferred to stones for professional printing. Whistler first tried the medium in 1878/79 and from 1887 onward used the transfer process almost exclusively to make his lithographs. Whistler’s printers, Thomas and Robert Way provided the specially prepared paper.

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