Aquatinting

Aquatinting is an intaglio printmaking technique, a variation of etching, that allows for the creation of tonal areas rather than just lines. The process begins with a copper or zinc plate that is dusted with a granular resin, typically powdered rosin. The plate is then heated, causing the resin particles to melt and adhere to the surface, creating a porous ground. Acid is applied to the plate, and it bites into the metal in the spaces between the resin particles. The longer the acid is allowed to etch, the deeper the lines and the darker the tone will be in the final print.

Multiple stages of etching and covering areas with stop-out varnish are often used to achieve a range of tonal values. The resin is then removed, and the plate is inked. Ink is applied to the plate and then wiped away from the surface, leaving ink only in the etched recesses. Paper is placed on the inked plate, and pressure is applied in an etching press, transferring the ink to the paper. The granular texture of the resin ground is visible in the print, giving aquatint its characteristic soft, painterly, or atmospheric quality. It is frequently combined with line etching to produce prints with both detailed linework and graduated tones. Aquatint was particularly popular in the 18th and 19th centuries for reproducing watercolors and creating subtle atmospheric effects in original prints.