Composition

These sketches show the lithographs The Forge, Passage du Dragon c102 and The Smith, Passage du Dragon c103, which were drawn in Paris in September 1894 and sent to Thomas Way (1837-1915) in London to be printed but proved unsatisfactory until reworked. The relevant part of the letter reads:

'Paris proofs - There ought to be two drawings of Smithies or Forgerons - I mean two different pictures - one, single figure, & the other 3 figures or the upper part of them seen in dark place.' 1

Technique

The tiny drawings are in grey-black ink, the lines running together like wash for dark areas.