Mezzotinta

Mezzotint is an intaglio printmaking process developed in the 17th century that enables rich, velvety blacks and smooth tonal gradations. The technique begins by roughening a metal plate, usually copper, with a rocker—a curved tool that creates thousands of micro-burrs across the surface. When inked and wiped, these burrs hold a dense amount of ink, producing a uniform dark field. Light areas are produced by selectively removing burrs through scraping, burnishing, and polishing, which allows less ink to remain and print as lighter tones. The result is a negative-to-positive workflow, where the image is built from dark to light.

Materials and methods typically involve copper plates, oil-based ink, damp printing paper, and a press. The process does not rely on chemical etching; instead, it depends on physical abrasion and controlled ink transfer. Additional techniques, such as aquatint or spit-biting, may be combined with mezzotint to extend tonal range and texture.

Historically, mezzotint was invented by the German engraver Ludwig von Siegen in the 1640s and quickly popularized in England, notably through the involvement of Prince Rupert of the Rhine. It dominated 18th-century English printmaking for portraits and reproductions of paintings. In the 19th century, artists like James McNeill Whistler refined the method, extending its tonal possibilities and painterly qualities. Although less common today, mezzotint remains valued for its unique, richly nuanced blacks and delicate gradations.