Bibi Valentin by James Abbott McNeill Whistler, 1859

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Etching and drypoint artwork titled “Bibi Valentin." A young girl sits facing the viewer, leaning on her left elbow, and … Read more Etching and drypoint artwork titled “Bibi Valentin." A young girl sits facing the viewer, leaning on her left elbow, and her legs extended to left. She wears a high-necked smock and buttoned boots, and round her short fair hair she has a ribbon, which falls down onto her shoulder at right.

The subject is the daughter of Valentin (fl. 1859), and she posed for Whistler in Paris. This is one of two children's portraits done in 1859, with Bibi Lalouette. In 1892 Mme. Valentin wrote to Whistler:

"Je vais vous paraître bien indiscrète en vous demandant une de vos belles Eaux-fortes. celà me ferait un bien grand plaisir car nous n'avions de vous que le portrait de ma fille, que vous aviez fait rue des Sts. Pères, et qu'elle m'a repris depuis son mariage."
(Translated: "You will think me very indiscreet in asking you for one of your beautiful Etchings. it would give me great pleasure because the only work we have of yours is the portrait of my daughter, which you had done in the Rue des Sts. Pères, and which she took when she married."

Bibi Valentin. 1859. Etching and drypoint. A rich impression with burr, printed on watermarked laid paper with full margins. Signed and dated in the plate. The work is mounted on archival mat and framed in an ebonized walnut ogee frame. See less