Signed and date in the plate, lower right:, Whistler 1861

Watermark, 'DE ERWEN DE [superscript 'E'] BLAUW Stamped, in black, possibly pale purple, lower right corner,' BPL over MB' (Lugt 4745) signifying Boston Public Library/Merrill Bequest

Inscribed, in pencil, lower left corner: K68 III

Hiram Campell Merrill [1866-1958] (Lugt 4745) Boston Public Library. Dr. and Mrs. Sheldon D. Stern

1978-present, gift to the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

James Abbott McNeill Whistler, The Forge, 1861, drypoint printed in black ink on laid paper. Detroit Institute of Arts, Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Sheldon Stern, F77.125.