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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.

Henry Ziegler - Night Flight - aquatint burnisher mezzotint effect - early aviation Sold
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Night Flight

ZIEGLER, Henry

Aquatint, burnisher and drypoint on wove paper, c. 1925.Artist’s proof, aside from an unknown edition; if one was actually printed, which is doubtf...

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Emil Ganso - Model Standing - The Print Club of Cleveland - nude women from behind - hips Sold
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Model Standing

GANSO, Emil

Etching and aquatint on wove paper, 1935.Reference: Smith I-8c.Edition of 250, as issued by The Print Club of Cleveland.Signed 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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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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Jacques Villon, Le Femme au Piano, d’après Marcel Gromaire (original French title) Color etching and aquatint on thick wove paper, 1928-29. Sold
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Woman at the Piano

VILLON, Jacques

 Le Femme au Piano, d’après Marcel Gromaire (original French title) Color etching and aquatint on thick wove paper.References: Ginestet & Pouil...

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Dream of Worship
$700

Dream of Worship

VON ESSEN, Hein

Droom der Aanbidden (original Dutch title) Etching and aquatint printed on thick tan wove paper.Two states, one without the background of the sun’s...

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Henry Chapront - Seigneur prenez pitie - Huysmans - La-Bas - detail
$400

Lord Have mercy

CHAPRONT, Henry

Seigneur Prenez Pitié… (original French title) Aquatint printed in blue and warm-gray inks on wove BFK Rives paper, circa 1918. This plate was poss...

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