Filters

color

era

exhibition

format

location

nationality

printer

publisher

sale

scale

scape

style

subject

technique

weather

year

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.

Edgar Chahine - Vieille Femme - drypoint - downtrodden - vie lamentable - detail Sold
View Details

Old Woman

CHAHINE, Edgar

Vieille Femme (original French title)Drypoint, etching, and aquatint on laid paper.Reference: Tabanelli 43. From the total edition of 40 in the sec...

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

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...

View full details
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...

View full details
Edgar Chahine - Un Gueux - A Beggar - early etching - Armenian Art - detail
$650

A Beggar

CHAHINE, Edgar

Un Gueux (original French title) Etching and aquatint on laid paper. Reference: Tabanelli 10. On impression in black ink only. Impressions in color...

View full details
Charles MAURIN - Street in Montmartre - Etching and aquatint - detail
$625

Street in Montmartre

MAURIN, Charles

Etching and aquatint on wove paper.  Likely one of the artist's early etchings, which often depicted "La Butte Montmartre" and its picturesque stre...

View full details
Felix Buhot - Cochons au Soleil - second state - detail Sold
View Details

Pigs in the Sun

BUHOT, Felix

Cochons au Soleil (original French title) Drypoint (mostly with the burr shaved off), aquatint, roulette, and very probably touches of etching prin...

View full details
Jacques VILLON - Le Potin - The Gossip - Aquatint and drypoint - 1904 - detail
$2,400

The Gossip

VILLON, Jacques

Le Potin (original French title) Aquatint and drypoint on wove paper. Reference: Ginestet et Pouillon 96. Undescribed state proof, between the firs...

View full details