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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.

Bernard Boutet de Monvel - La Patineuse - female fashion ice skater - color aquatint and soft-ground etching
$1,500

The Skater

BOUTET DE MONVEL, Bernard

La Patineuse (original French title) Color aquatint and soft-ground etching printed in color on thick wove paper. References: neither in the BN-IFF...

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Samuel L. Margolies - Lengthening Shadows - snow scene - lithograph
$500

Lengthening Shadows

MARGOLIES, Samuel L.

Aquatint and etching on wove paper. Edition unknown. Signed and titled in pencil. Very fine impression in near perfect condition, aside from the fa...

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Eugene Bejot - Notre-Dame de Paris de Nuit - At night - ephemera before letters - detail Sold
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Notre-Dame

BEJOT, Eugene

Aquatint printed in bluish-black ink on laid paper.Reference: BN-IFF 108. Unlikely edition of 50 in this state.  There were at least three states o...

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Henri Guerard - Le Coup de Vent - detail Sold
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The Wind Gust

GUERARD, Henri

Le Coup de Vent (original French title) Etching and aquatint printed in brownish-black in on laid paper.Reference: Bertin 279.There was an early st...

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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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FELIX BUHOT L Hiver a Paris - La Neige a Paris - Winter in Paris - detail
$1,300

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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