Printmaking: Mezzotint
Mezzotint is an intaglio printmaking technique dating from the 17th century.
It is considered one of the most difficult and time consuming printmaking
processes and is a reversed version from engraving as the artist works from black to white instead of white to black.
The process begins with a heavy textured surface which is created all over the metal plate by
roughening the surface using a roller with cutting teeth, called a rocker.
The rocker is worked steadily from side to side at an angle to create holes and burrs in the surface of the copper plate.
This rocketing movement is repeated across the whole plate,
following a pattern of criss-crossing and overlapping passes which slowly builds up a texture that would print
an almost completely solid tone if the plate was inked up and printed at this stage.
This rocketing needs to be done in a systematic way to create this dense network of lines across the plate.
After the plate has been completely covered with texture, the picture is developed with a scraper or a burnisher.
The artist works from dark to light by burnishing or smoothing the surface to create areas that hold less ink.
The process produces a range of soft, subtle gradations of tone without any of the sharp lines of an etching.
|
