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Intaglio
The etching process,
or intaglio, begins with a copper or zinc plate,
prepared with a surface coating called a "ground." The
original drawing is then scratched onto the surface,
cutting through the ground, exposing the bare metal of
the plate. The entire plate is then submerged into an
acid bath which bites the exposed drawing into the plate.
The longer the plate is in acid, the deeper the line is
etched. A deeper line, when filled with ink and printed,
will produce a darker line. Some drawings require up to
six baths to produce desired line depth. The ground is
then removed from the plate, the plate is warmed and
covered with ink, which is then carefully wiped off the
surface, leaving the lines full. Etchings are printed
on 100% rag paper, which is first dampened, placed over
the etching plate and covered with blanketing to equalize
the tremendous pressure of the rollers as they pass over
the etching plate making a distinct mark on the paper and
the darkest lines of ink moulded in relief. Each etching
requires inking and wiping of the plate, resulting in each
original etching having a vitality and spirit of its own.
Following completion of the edition, the plate is cancelled,
preventing the printing of additional etchings.
Rarity
Prints exist in
multiples, and the price of each print is generally commensurate with
the size of the edition. Prints from a limited edition, all other things
being equal, are worth more than those from an unlimited edition. The
limits are imposed by plate wear, which occurs at a different rate with
each type of print. Intaglio (etchings, aquatints, mezzotints, drypoints,
photogravures) editions are the smallest because the copperplate is soft,
is subjected to great pressure as it rolls through the press, and wears
down quickest. Among these, the delicate burr of a drypoint disappears
after 20 impressions at most, while the others can sustain more impressions,
depending on how deeply etched. Steelfacing can extend the number of
printable impressions, but at the cost of some loss of plate tone and
subtlety. True intaglio prints show a distinctive platemark from the pressure
of the etching press on paper and plate. Lithographic stones and plates, and
silk-screens, can produce editions in the hundreds, and woodblocks are sturdy
enough for thousands of impressions.Lithographic stones and plates, and
silk-screens, can produce editions in the hundreds, and woodblocks are sturdy
enough for thousands of impressions.
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