aguafuerte

Aguafuerte, or etching, is a printmaking technique in which an image is incised into a metal plate by chemical action. It is a form of intaglio printing: areas protected by a ground resist the acid, while exposed lines are bitten to form grooves that hold ink.

In practice, copper or zinc plates are coated with a resistant ground. The artist draws on the surface to expose metal, and the plate is immersed in an acid bath (nitric or sulfuric acid) for a controlled time. The bite is removed, the plate cleaned, and the process may be repeated. Aquatint or other methods can add tonal areas. The plate is then inked and wiped, leaving ink in the incised lines, and printed with damp paper.

Historically developed in Europe in the 15th–16th centuries, aguafuerte became a central technique in European printmaking. It reached particular prominence in Dutch and Spanish schools, with Rembrandt and Goya among its renowned practitioners. Today it remains widely used, often combined with aquatint and other intaglio methods.

The method permits very fine lines and a broad tonal range, from delicate lines to rich blacks, depending on bite depth and technique. It requires careful handling of acids and press conditions, and plates can yield multiple impressions.