Filters

color

colors

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.

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
Felix Buhot - Le Hibou - detail - impression a l'essence
$8,300

The Owl

BUHOT, Felix

Le Hibou (original French title) Etching, aquatint, roulette, and drypoint on olive-greenish laid paper, 1893.Reference: Bourcard & Goodfriend ...

View full details
William J. PATTERSON - Sleep - Etching and aquatint - trial proof - detail
$250

Sleep

PATTERSON, William J.

Etching and aquatint on wove paper. No known edition, but proofs exist including in the University of Syracuse Art Museum collection (see here). Si...

View full details
Onelio Marrero - Two Waiting Ballerinas - Etching and aquatint in brown ink - 2012 - detail
$170

Two Waiting Ballerinas

MARRERO, Onelio

Etching and aquatint in brown ink on Rives paper.Edition of 15.Signed, dated and numbered 12/15 in pencil.