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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.

Louis Legrand Sold
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Little Tease

LEGRAND, Louis

Petite Marcheuse (original French title) Etching, aquatint & drypoint printed on simili-japon wove paper.References: Arwas 361; Exsteens 250.Pl...

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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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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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Terry Wilson - Anatomy of a Scream - Aquatint mezzotint drypoint - detail
$400

Anatomy of a Scream

WILSON, Terry

Aquatint, mezzotint, and drypoint on Arches wove paper.Edition of 100.Published by Georgetown Graphics Inc for the Print Collectors Club, Washingto...

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Maurice LANGASKENS - Un Conte de Noël - A Christmas Tale - Color etching and aquatint detail Sold
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A Christmas Tale

LANGASKENS, Maurice

Un Conte de Noël (original French title) Color etching and aquatint on wove paper, no date. An artist’s proof. Edition unknown. Cautiously a man le...

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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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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 ...

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Jacques VILLON - Le Potin - The Gossip - Aquatint and drypoint - 1904 - detail
$2,400

The Gossip

VILLON, Jacques

Le Potin (original French title) Aquatint and drypoint on wove paper. Reference: Ginestet et Pouillon 96. Undescribed state proof, between the firs...

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