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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.

David Smith-Harrison - Plum Tree III - etching and aquatint - architecture
$500

Plum Tree III

SMITH-HARRISON, David

Etching and aquatint printed in color on wove paper.Edition of 200.Signed, titled and numbered in pencil.

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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Shaul Banay - Ben Banay - Mm Papillon - Mrs Butterfly - 1975 - detail1 Sold
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Ms. Butterfly

BANAY, Ben

Mm. Papillon (original French title) Cutout etching and aquatint printed in color on Arches wove paper.Edition of 100.Published by Georgetown Graph...

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Terry Haass - Happy Pentagone 5 - 1973 - Spielmann 286.5 - detail
$200

Pentagone 5

HAASS, Terry

Cut-out color aquatint and etching on BFK Rives wove paper.Reference: Spielmann 286.5.Edition of 100. Signed, titled, and numbered in pencil. NOTE:...

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Terry Haass - Happy Pentagone 4 - 1973 - Spielmann 286.4 - detail
$200

Pentagone 4

HAASS, Terry

Cut-out color aquatint and etching on BFK Rives wove paper.Reference: Spielmann 286.4.Edition of 100.Signed, titled, and numbered in pencil. Condit...

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Gil Cowley - Earth - color viscosity aquatint - February 1964 - edition of 10 - numbered 4 of 10 - Atelier 17 - detail Sold
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Earth

COWLEY, Gil

Color viscosity intaglio on Arches wove paper.Stated edition of 10, but according to the artist likely not printed in full.Printed while the artist...

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