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Aquatint: a painterly intaglio technique

While printmakers have always wanted to present some shading or grayscale in their work, until the discovery of aquatint in the 17th century, doing so was technically very challenging.  And with a few notable exceptions, such as in the etchings of Francisco Goya, aquatint, this most painterly of intaglio techniques, remained unpracticed by most printmakers.  Aquatint started to gain popularity in the latter part of the 19th century, likely as etching was being rediscovered by Impressionists.  These artists were often eager to replicate in their prints the atmospheric qualities found in their paintings.  Aquatint, with its granular texture, lends itself to effects that offer an endless range of shading, both in black and white and in color.  Because it was practiced so masterfully by artists of the Modern Era, we here at Armstrong Fine Art are true “suckers” for a finely crafted aquatint.  Here are a few we have, or have had in the past.

Cachoum Sold
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Cachoum

DORNY, Bertrand

Embossed color aquatint with a touch of drypoint printed on Arches wove paper. Edition of 25 or 4 artist's proofs (hard to decipher). Regulard edit...

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Maurice Taquoy - Les Corbeaux - The Ravens - village and empty field - color aquatint soft-ground etching Sold
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The Ravens

TAQUOY, Maurice

Les Corbeaux (original French title) Aquatint and soft-ground etching printed in color on thick wove paper.State proof, before the edition of 100.B...

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Bernard Boutet de Monvel - La Patineuse - female fashion ice skater - color aquatint and soft-ground etching
$1,500

The Skater

BOUTET DE MONVEL, Bernard

La Patineuse (original French title) Color aquatint and soft-ground etching printed in color on thick wove paper. References: neither in the BN-IFF...

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Yannick Ballif - Luz do Dia - Daylight - embossed print - color aquatint - drypoint - room with a view - window - detail
$400

Daylight

BALLIF, Yannick

Luz Do Dia (original Portugese title) Embossed color aquatint and drypoint on wove paper.Printed to the sheet edge, as usual.Edition of 70.Publishe...

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Yannick Ballif - Quatre Iles - Four Islands - orange teal vegetation - leaves
$500

Four Islands

BALLIF, Yannick

Quatre Iles (original French title)Embossed color aquatint and linear scuffing on wove paper.Printed to the sheet edge, as usual.Trial proof, aside...

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Gil Cowley - Parc de Montssouris - Paris - Atelier 17 - color viscosity - February 1964 - detail Sold
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Parc de Montsouris

COWLEY, Gil

Color viscosity intaglio on wove paper.Edition of 10.Signed, dated “2/64”, annotated "PARIS", and numbered in pencil.

Rene Lorrain - La Coulee - The Casting - aquatinte en couleurs - detail Sold
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The Casting

LORRAIN, Rene

La Coulée (original French title) Color aquatint and etching on laid paper.Ref: not in BN-IFF.Edition of 50, but like all of this artist’s prints, ...

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