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.

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

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...

View full details
Gene Kloss - Sundown - etching and aquatint - rider at night in desolate western landscape - detail1 Sold
View Details

Sundown

KLOSS, Gene

Aquatint, etching, and drypoint on Arches wove paper.Reference: Sanchez 517.Edition of 50.Compared to another version of this print, titled “Riders...

View full details
Jean-Francois Raffaelli - Le Grand Prix de Paris - detail
$1,400

The Paris Grand Prix

RAFFAELLI, Jean-Francois

Le Grand-Prix de Paris (original French title) Color etching, aquatint, and drypoint printed on simili-japon paper, 1906.Ref: Delteil 74.Edition of...

View full details