Definition

1. Noun:

   • A printmaking technique: A method of etching that produces tonal effects resembling watercolor washes or ink washes, typically used to create areas of uniform tone rather than lines.
   • A print produced by this technique: An artwork created using the aquatint process.

2. Verb:

   • To create using the aquatint process: To etch or produce a design on a metal plate using the aquatint technique.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Technique):

  • Goya famously used aquatint to create dramatic tonal contrasts in his series "Los Caprichos".
  • Learning aquatint allows printmakers to achieve subtle gradations of gray.

• Noun (Artwork):

  • The museum acquired a rare 18th-century aquatint depicting a London street scene.
  • This aquatint is valued for its remarkable atmospheric quality.

• Verb:

  • The artist decided to aquatint the background to give it a misty, soft appearance.
  • She spent the afternoon aquatinting the copper plate for her new series.

Advanced Usage

• "To work in aquatint": To specialize in or use the aquatint technique.

  • The contemporary printmaker works primarily in aquatint and drypoint.

• "Aquatint ground": Refers to the resinous powder applied to the plate to create the tonal areas in the process.

  • Applying an even aquatint ground is crucial for achieving a smooth tone.

Variants and Related Words

• Aquatinter (n): An artist who specializes in making aquatints.
  • He is considered a master aquatinter of his generation.

Synonyms

• Tonal etching: A descriptive synonym emphasizing the technique's focus on tone rather than line.
• Etching: A broader category of intaglio printmaking that includes aquatint as a specific method.

Related Phrases

• Aquatint process: The specific series of steps involved in creating an aquatint.

  • The aquatint process involves dusting resin on a plate and then bathing it in acid.

• Sugar-lift aquatint: A specific variant of the technique where a sugar solution is painted on the plate.

  • She used sugar-lift aquatint to create painterly, brushstroke-like marks.

Noun

1. a method of etching that imitates the broad washes of a water color
2. an etching made by a process that makes it resemble a water color

Verb

1. etch in aquatint