The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

Dancer was drawn on a cover of the Revue Indépendante dating from November 1886. However, the drawing may date from 1888/1889.

The revue was directed by Edouard Dujardin (1861-1949); Joris-Karl Huysmans (1848-1907) contributed the 'chronique d'art' and Stéphane Mallarmé (1842-1898), theatrical notes. Whistler was close friends with Mallarmé, who by January 1888 was planning to translate the 'Ten O'Clock' lecture. Whistler agreed to support the new volume by permitting the publication of four of his pastels (Tillie: Study in Pink and Mauve m0370, Note in flesh-colour gold - The Golden Blossom m0402, Standing nude m0955 and Parasol; red note m0957).

Dancer, Glasgow University Library

The drawing is catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1211).

Images

Subject

Sitter

Not identified.

Technique

Technique

Dancer, Glasgow University Library

With a suggestion of a swirling scarf, a round fan or a tambourine, a figure whirls like a butterfly. Insubstantial as a shadow, she emerges from areas of soft cross-hatching. The indications of a margin and the relationship to the cover suggest it was considered as an illustration.

Conservation History

The drawing is on the last sheet, facing the back cover, which is now missing. The volume is very battered, and the drawing, very faint.

History

Provenance

• 1903: in Whistler's studio at his death and bequeathed to Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958);
• 1955: given by Miss Birnie Philip to the University of Glasgow.

Exhibitions

The sheet was never exhibited.

Bibliography

Catalogues Raisonnés

• MacDonald, Margaret F., James McNeill Whistler. Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours. A Catalogue Raisonné, New Haven and London, 1995 (cat. no. 1211) as 'Dancer'.