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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.

Terry Haass - Variations 2 - 1970 - Spielmann 282.2 - pink and blue split circle geometric
$175

Variations 2

HAASS, Terry

Cut-out color aquatint and etching on BFK Rives wove paper. Reference: Spielmann 282.2. Edition of 100. Signed, titled, and numbered in pencil.

Yannick Ballif - Fleurs - Eglantine - Eglantier - Sweet-Brier - pink flowers - detail
$325

Sweet-Brier

BALLIF, Yannick

Eglantine (original French title) Embossed color aquatint and drypoint on wove paper, 1986.Artist’s proof.  Edition unknown.Signed and dated in pen...

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Krishna Reddy - Two Fishes - Butterfly Formation - 1957 - Artists Proof - Epreuve d'Artiste - detail Sold
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Two Fishes

REDDY, Krishna

Color viscosity intaglio print on tan wove paper, 1957.Artist's proof.  No edition as a such.  But clearly used for another edition.Seemingly this ...

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