Home Forums Explore Media Printmaking Atmospheric Etching Effect

Viewing 5 posts - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #470179
    Sirfishalot
    Default

        Can anyone shed light on how these type of classic effect in etching may have been achieved? The background elements appear to be very lightly etched, almost appears as having been painted. This is the work of classic 18th century French master – Jacques Callot.
        Could it just have been done with a superfine needle and etched for a much shorter time?
        I love the work of these classical master printmakers.

        Thanks,
        JayT

        #794272
        blackandwhite
        Default

            Probably it is softground etching or spit bite aquatint.

            #794273
            JackOptimus
            Default

                Looks alot like it is just very lightly scratched drypoint lines, or shallow engraving.

                #794270
                Heft
                Default

                    Length of time in the acid bath using stop out techniques. A good description of some of his technical expertise in the Wikipedia article:
                    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Callot

                    JDH

                    [FONT=Century Gothic]www.jdheft.com

                    #794271
                    Jeffro Jones
                    Default

                        “Heft” is right.
                        It looks like there has been three bites of the plate; the longest being the dark foreground figure,
                        then the main scene with ruins and figures, the shortest time for the distant background elements.
                        Here is a clearer print by Callot, showing a similar three stage development of aerial space:

                        1: shortest etch
                        2: longer etch
                        3: longest etch

                        :::

                      Viewing 5 posts - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
                      • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.