James Abbott McNeil Whistler (American, 1834-1905), 'Billingsgate', originally from the series 'Sixteen Etchings of Scenes on the Thames and Other Subjects' (first published 1871), etching on light tan wove paper with black/brown ink, signed and dated lower right, 8th state of 8, Kennedy 47, 9.625in. x 12.25in. Note: In August of 1859, Whistler began this revolutionary set of etchings also referred to as 'The Thames Set', conceiving of the series while living near Rotherhithe and Wapping'areas in the so-called 'pool' of the Thames estuary particularly noteworthy for heavy ship traffic in and out of the London Docks. The set was first published in 1871, as part of a series of 100, with two subsequent printings in 1879, and 1890. 'Billingsgate', is arguably the most famous image from this series due to its inclusion in Philip Gilbert Hamerton's third edition of Etchings and Etchers, a publication responsible for the revival of interest in the techniques of etching in the late nineteenth century.