Composition

This sketch is the basis for the etching An Artist Sketching [23], which was Whistler's first design for a title page for the 'French Set', Douze Eaux-Fortes d'après Nature (Twelve Etchings from Nature).

Conservation History

The sheet was probably taken from a sketchbook. Over fifty drawings, many in sketchbooks, most of which dated from 1857-1858, were apparently given to Whistler's half-sister Deborah and/or her husband, Francis Seymour Haden, and were later removed from the sketchbooks.