Thomas Way Sr. was a lithographic printer and the father of Thomas Robert Way. He was one of Whistler's chief creditors at his bankruptcy in 1879. Together with his son, the two acquired thirty artworks by Whistler at this time. The two printers were integral in revitalizing the art of lithography in Britain, which had been utilized for cheap commercial reproduction of images, and not a form of artistic expression. Influenced by the Ways, Whistler made his first attempts at lithography in 1878. They aided Whistler by explaining the lithographic process, as well as cataloguing and publicizing the artworks. In 1877 they printed a pamphlet to accompany Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room, and in 1881 they printed the catalogue for the Fine Art Society's exhibition of Whistler's Venice pastels. Throughout the 1880s the Ways worked closely with Whistler on a variety of projects, including the printing of the Venice etchings.