The Tyresmith

Object Details

• Artist

  James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903)

• Edition/State

  One of two impressions.

• Label

  The Tyresmith reached a large audience when it was reproduced for inclusion in the British newspaper The Whirlwind in 1890. London and other large cities were notorious for heavy traffic, much of it caused by iron-shod horses pulling wagons with iron-clad wheels. By the time Whistler drew these Chelsea smiths repairing an iron tire hoop, the development of quieter hard rubber wheels and inflatable tires was well underway. John Boyd Dunlop founded what is now the Goodyear Tire Company in 1889, the year before Whistler drew this image.

  Whistler lithographs are identified by "C." numbers as described in The Lithographs of James McNeill Whistler (Chicago: The Art Institute of Chicago, 1998). This print is C36, one of two impressions. See also F1906.316.

• Provenance

  To 1893

  H. Wunderlich & Co., New York to 1893 [1]

  From 1893 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from H. Wunderlich & Co. in 1893 [2]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See Original Whistler List, Lithographs, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Whistler: Streetscapes, Urban Change (November 18, 2023 to May 4, 2024)

  Lithographs and Lithotints by Whistler (March 23, 1925 to March 24, 1930)

  Special Exhibition, Whistler Etchings and Lithographs (January 14, 1924 to February 18, 1924)

• Previous custodian or owner

  H. Wunderlich & Co. (1874-1912) (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  United States

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Print

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1890s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang, H. Wunderlich & Co.

• Place

  United States

• Topic

  Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, American Art, Store front

• Culture

  Americans

• Object Type

  Prints