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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.

Shaded River Sold
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Shaded River

MEUNIER, Henri

Rivière Ombragée (descriptive French title)Color aquatint printed on Arches laid paper.Artist's proof, before the edition.Published by Georges Peti...

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Samuel L. Margolies - Lengthening Shadows - snow scene - lithograph
$500

Lengthening Shadows

MARGOLIES, Samuel L.

Aquatint and etching on wove paper. Edition unknown. Signed and titled in pencil. Very fine impression in near perfect condition, aside from the fa...

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Bernard Boutet de Monvel - L'Heure du Repos - canal town - BN-IFF 5 - Color etching and aquatint Sold
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L'Heure du Repos

BOUTET DE MONVEL, Bernard

Color etching and aquatint. Refs: DC 366; BN-IFF 5. Monogrammed in the plate. Signed in the lower right platemark in pencil. Annotated "L'heure du ...

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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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George Jo Mess - Summer Nocturne - color intaglio Sold
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Summer Nocturne

MESS, George Jo

Etching and aquatint printed in blue ink on simili-Japan paper.Edition unknown, but very likely small. This composition seems scarce. Signed and ti...

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George Jo Mess - Handy Pump - intaglio Sold
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Handy Pump

MESS, George Jo

Color etching and aquatint on simili-Japan paper. Edition unknown, but likely small. Signed and titled in pencil. 

Richard Ranft - Profil de Nuit - Night Profile - woman looking into distance landscape - detail Sold
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Night Profile

RANFT, Richard

Profil de Nuit (descriptive French title) Etching and aquatint printed in brownish-black ink on tan wove paper, n.d.Edition unknown, but likely ver...

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Emile Dezaunay - La Messe en Bretagne - Bretton coiffe - color intaglio - detail Sold
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Mass in Brittany

DEZAUNAY, Emile-Alfred

La Messe en Bretagne (descriptive French title) Aquatint, etching, roulette & drypoint printed in color on Arches laid paper, circa 1900.Refere...

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Ann Chernow - Mood Indigo - Etching - woman at night at table with lamp - detail
$300

Mood Indigo

CHERNOW, Ann

Aquatint and etching printed in dark bluish-black ink on wove paper. Edition of 12. Signed, titled, and numbered in pencil. 

Yannick Ballif - Fenetre d'Ete - window with slatted shade blue flowers - detail Sold
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Summer Window

BALLIF, Yannick

Fenêtre d’Eté (original French title) Embossed color aquatint and drypoint on wove paper, 1983.Printed to the sheet edge, as usual.Artist’s proof. ...

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Gene Kloss - Sundown - etching and aquatint - rider at night in desolate western landscape - detail1 Sold
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Sundown

KLOSS, Gene

Aquatint, etching, and drypoint on Arches wove paper.Reference: Sanchez 517.Edition of 50.Compared to another version of this print, titled “Riders...

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Paul Cezanne After The Card Players - Apres Les Joueurs de cartes - color etching aquatint Jacques Villon detail Sold
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The Card Players

VILLON, Jacques

after Paul CÉZANNE (1839-1906) Les Joueurs de Cartes (original French title) Aquatint and etching printed in color on Arches wove paper.Reference: ...

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Maurice LANGASKENS - Un Conte de Noël - A Christmas Tale - Color etching and aquatint detail Sold
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A Christmas Tale

LANGASKENS, Maurice

Un Conte de Noël (original French title) Color etching and aquatint on wove paper, no date. An artist’s proof. Edition unknown. Cautiously a man le...

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Henri Delavallee - Angelique à Sa Porte - Angelique at Her Door - edition - detail
$800

Angelique at Her Door

DELAVALLEE, Henri

Angélique à Sa Porte (original French title) Soft-ground etching, etching, and aquatint on laid paper. Reference: Morane 15.We present two states o...

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Yasuyuki KIHARA - Displacement - Déplacement - Aquatint printed black ink - 1975 - detail
$500

Displacement

KIHARA, Yasuyuki

Déplacement (original French title) Aquatint printed black ink on BFK Rives wove paper, with a silver background tint, 1975. Edition of 100. Publis...

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