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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.

Alphonse Lafitte - Manuel Robbe - Clair de Lune- aquatint Sold
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Clair de Lune

LAFITTE, Alphonse

Aquatint on wove MBM paper. Signed in black crayon "Alphonse Lafitte", a well-documented pseudonym for artist Manuel Robbe. Signed in black crayon....

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Bernard Boutet de Monvel - L'Heure du Repos - canal town - BN-IFF 5 - Color etching and aquatint Sold
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L'Heure du Repos

BOUTET DE MONVEL, Bernard

Color etching and aquatint. Refs: DC 366; BN-IFF 5. Monogrammed in the plate. Signed in the lower right platemark in pencil. Annotated "L'heure du ...

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George Jo Mess - Summer Nocturne - color intaglio Sold
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Summer Nocturne

MESS, George Jo

Etching and aquatint printed in blue ink on simili-Japan paper.Edition unknown, but very likely small. This composition seems scarce. Signed and ti...

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George Jo Mess - Handy Pump - intaglio Sold
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Handy Pump

MESS, George Jo

Color etching and aquatint on simili-Japan paper. Edition unknown, but likely small. Signed and titled in pencil. 

Maurice Taquoy - Chiens d'Arrets - Pointer Dogs - oblong hunting scene - at attention - detail Sold
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Pointer Dogs

TAQUOY, Maurice

Chiens d’Arrêt (original French title) Aquatint and soft-ground etching printed in color on wove paper.Likely an edition of 50.The dogs depicted ar...

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