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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.

Jacques Villon - Marcel Duchamp - Le Chef d'Oeuvre - Masterpiece - Mother holding daughter drawing - Belle Epoque Sold
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The Masterpiece

VILLON, Jacques

Le Chef d’Oeuvre (original French title) Drypoint, aquatint and roulette printed in four colors, à la poupée (yet from two registered plates) on wo...

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Charles Houdard - Charles Louis Marcel Houdard - Les Grenouilles - Frogs - dedicated to Henri Guerard - detail Sold
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Frogs

HOUDARD, Charles

Grenouilles (original French title) Color aquatint on chine paper, 1894.References: Stein and Karshan 36; Boyer and Cate 36.Artist’s proof aside fr...

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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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Louis Legrand - Au Bal (original French title) At the Ball - Aquatint , 1911, Paris.
$950

At the Ball

LEGRAND, Louis

Au Bal (original French title) Aquatint on Pellet et Legrand wove paper.Reference:  Exsteens 317 ; Arwas 431. Edition of 70. Published by Gustave P...

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Charles MAURIN - Luxembourg Gardens - Le Jardin du Luxembourg - Color etching and aquatint on laid paper – 1900 - detail Sold
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Luxembourg Gardens

MAURIN, Charles

Jardin du Luxembourg (original French title) Color etching and aquatint on laid paper. Ref: Goldschmidt 25.  Edition of 50.  Published by Charles H...

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Henry Chapront - L'Alsace 1st State - detail
$400

The Alsace

CHAPRONT, Henry

L’Alsace… (original French title) Aquatint printed in blue ink, with a touch of red in the cockade on simili-Japan paper, April 1916. One of 8 impr...

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FELIX BUHOT L Hiver a Paris - La Neige a Paris - Winter in Paris - detail Sold
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Winter in Paris

BUHOT, Felix

L’Hiver à Paris or La Neige à Paris (original French titles) Etching, aquatint, scraper, and drypoint on laid paper.Reference: Bourcard & Goodf...

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Edgar Chahine - Un Gueux - A Beggar - early etching - Armenian Art - detail
$650

A Beggar

CHAHINE, Edgar

Un Gueux (original French title) Etching and aquatint on laid paper. Reference: Tabanelli 10. On impression in black ink only. Impressions in color...

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Charles MAURIN - Street in Montmartre - Etching and aquatint - detail
$625

Street in Montmartre

MAURIN, Charles

Etching and aquatint on wove paper.  Likely one of the artist's early etchings, which often depicted "La Butte Montmartre" and its picturesque stre...

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Dans le Jardin
$700

Dans le Jardin

ROBBE, Manuel

Color aquatint on laid paper, circa 1907. Reference: Merrill Chase 27. Likely an edition of 100. Signed in crayon on the image, and numbered below ...

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